WHAT is believed to be the last remaining sign from a brewery that closed two decades ago has been saved and could go on display.

There were fears the signs from the former Park pub in Blackburn had been lost forever when it was converted into an Indian restaurant.

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But after a local councillor enquired, the building’s new owner revealed he had kept all the historic signs, including what could be the only remaining Matthew Brown sign in the town.

The Montague Street pub recently reopened as Armaan after being taken over by Jay’s Properties owner Nas Yaseen earlier this year.

The pub, which closed a few years ago, had once been part of the Coniston Road brewery’s stable, before the firm was taken over by Scottish and Newcastle Breweries in 1987 and stopped producing beer at its Lion Brewery site four years later.

Having moved to Chorley, the Matthew Brown brand was officially dropped in 1998.

Blackburn with Darwen councillor Dave Smith said he had heard concerns that the signs would be lost and contacted the building owner.

He said: “I spoke to the new owner and he said he was from Blackburn and wanted to save the heritage of the pub.

“He had the big sign with the pub name and also the swing sign, both of which had been sitting in his garage.

“Obviously he does not want them there forever. The museum has said they will take the signs but they have not got much room and they might end up in a storeroom.

“We have offered them to anyone who wants to take them and put them on display somewhere.”

Coun Smith said he believed it was the last remaining sign bearing the Matthew Brown name.

He said: “No one knows if any of the other Matthew Brown signs are still around. It is good that he saved the heritage aspects of the pub when converting it.”

Mr Yaseen said: “It is probably one of the last Matthew Brown signs so it is historical for Blackburn and I wanted to keep it for a good cause.

“We spent a lot of money on the building which was very run down and now it has opened as a restaurant.”