LANCASHIRE cricketing legend David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd was the toast of the town as he launched a new craft brewery.

Blackburn brewery Thwaites invited the former England batsman to open Crafty Dan, used to produce a variety of real ales.

As part of the opening, Mr Lloyd created his own beer, called Leave The Car - a play on his Sky Sports commentary catchphrase, ‘start the car’.

Mr Lloyd said he was honoured to be asked to open the facility.

He said: “It was an honour to come down and open Crafty Dan.

“When I was just getting into cricket I worked in breweries – which helped keep me fit.

“I worked in Blackburn, and everyone knew all about Thwaites.

“I have always like real ales and pubs, and I was delighted when the opportunity came to put my own stamp on it.

“And it has come out a cracking pint.”

Mr Lloyd used the new ‘brew your perfect pint’ tool on Thwaites’ website to create Leave The Car - and he now provides the voiceover for it.

He said: “I went on the website and I could say what I wanted.

“I don’t like dark ales so I wanted it golden in colour, with a nutty taste.

“With the name, you can’t start the car if you’ve had a drink, so I made it Leave The Car.”

Crafty Dan cost £200,000 to install and allows Thwaites to create up to three new beers a week and to trial new, experimental flavours.

With Thwaites planning to leave its town centre site, the craft brewery will move with it when a new site is identified.

Thwaites production director Ian Bearpark said he was very pleased with how Crafty Dan had turned out.

He said: “We did our first brew in November and I am very pleased with the plant.

“We are going to brew seven of our 12 beers from our Signature Range here this year.

“The brewers love it as well. It is difficult keeping them out.

“It was great to have Bumble here today. He is such a character.”