TORBAY'S brewery is continuing to expand and so it is bringing new members on to the team.

Bays Brewery at Aspen Way, Yalberton, Paignton, says it continues to celebrate well into the New Year having experienced an increase in sales of 48 per cent to the year ending December 2009.

It says already January has seen like-for-like sales increase by a similar percentage.

Over the last 12 months the brewery has had a number of successes to include the short-listing to supply Sainsbury's with 40,000 bottles of its Bays Breaker in July.

Director Mark Salmon said to accommodate continued expansion plans two new team members have been recruited.

Andy Hatch has joined as a driver and Rosie Cotgrave has joined as a customer service advisor.

Mr Salmon said they will both be assisting the team in driving the business forward over the coming 12 months.

He said: "Bays continues to be an exciting company to be a part of and we feel extremely lucky to be able to welcome to the team both Rosie and Andy who we are sure will work hard to ensure our products continue to appear in all the right places.

"Our plans over the next 12 months include introducing a new beer and also expanding our events division which already has proved to be hugely successful."

Commenting on the proposed new beer, brewer Will Freeland said: "We found our four per cent Christmas beer to be a huge hit with our drinkers, so have decided to launch something similar as a new mainstay product.

"We are currently working on the flavour of this beer but are extremely excited about its launch in a few months' time. The name has yet to be decided so any ideas would be gratefully received."

Mr Salmon said the business has a number of events lined up for the year to include serving the Young Farmers in April, Occombe Beer Festival in June, and the Will Young concert at the Newton Abbot festival in July.

It is also working closely with Rowcroft Hospice and will be launching the Bays Drag Olympics in July, which was announced earlier this month, and hope will raise money for the charity.