Marks & Spencer is to champion bottle-conditioned regional beers with the launch of four own-label beers from named suppliers.

The line-up includes a Norfolk Bitter, brewed by Woodforde's, a Bucking­hamshire Ale from Vale Brewery, a Yorkshire Bitter from The Cropton Brewery, and an Organic Scottish Ale from Black Isle.

The range, packaged in 50cl bottles with an rsp of £2.49, will be promoted with a three-for-£6 offer from

8 October to 4 November.

The initiative has won support from CAMRA, which recognises bottle-conditioned beer as the packaged equivalent of cask beer.

CAMRA senior marketing manager Georgina Rudman praised M&S for becoming the first national retailer to recognise bottle-conditioned beers as a separate category.

M&S has also unveiled a wine carrier made from recycled denim in four of its food halls. The cardboard-like material can be recycled as household paper waste. If successful, the carriers will be rolled out nationally.