A BEER shortage could hit pubs in Warrington during the World Cup.

Brewers are urging drinkers to turn to real ale as a CO2 shortage could mean that pubs could run dry of beer.

CO2 adds the fizz in carbonated drinks and propels beer out of pumps.

Earlier this week food wholesaler Booker announced they were rationing beer and cider because of a shortage of CO2 used in carbonated drinks.

The Tesco-owned retailer, which is used by bars, restaurants and traders, is capping customers to 10 cases of beer, and five of cider or soft drinks.

Across the country, some Wetherspoon pubs are temporarily without draught John Smith's and Strongbow cider.

A spokesperson for Lymm Brewing said: “It’s not a major problem for us as we sell all our beer in bottles or cask so we don’t need C02.

"Freedom, however, one of our large suppliers has now had to cease production and we cannot get any stock for a few weeks to Costellos in Stockton Heath and Altrincham or the Lymm Brewery Tap.”

Jordan Millington, head brewer at 4Ts Brewery in Latchford, said there was no problem at the moment but but it could affect them within the next month. 

He added: "I have a few bottles in stock, but possibly in two weeks time I will be out of gas completely as we have just started our two craft lagers - WA4 4.0% Craft Lager and Panzer Pils 4.8% Czech Lager."

The temporary closure of some UK and mainland European factories involved in producing the gas has created the shortage.

Today, Friday, crumpets were the latest victim of the CO2 shortage. 

Producer Warbutons said it is working “really hard” to keep products on shelves, but admitted it is making “nowhere near” its usual amount of the British staple.

Just one of its plants – at Eastwood in Nottinghamshire – has been operating normally, it said.

Two others – in Enfield, north London, and Burnley, Lancashire – are not producing any goods, while its Stockton-on-Tees branch has received a small supply of CO2 after being offline for days.

Tearmh Taylor, corporate and consumer affairs manager at Warburtons, said: “As a result of the ongoing CO2 shortage, we are producing nowhere near the 1.5 million packs of crumpets we usually make each week and have had to suspend production at a number of our bakeries.

“This will remain the case until the CO2 supply returns to normal, but rest assured we are working really hard to keep our products on Britain’s shelves.”