Historic Thwaites Brewery has been forced to throw away 1,700 pints of beer after 100 travellers invaded the site and turned it into 'a disgusting mess'

Employees at the Blackburn plant were stunned to find it taken over with 21 caravans and 25 vehicles, as the trespassers set up camp in their workplace.

Inside pictures reveal the extent of the damage caused during the trespassers' stay.

Smashed plates, paperwork and files were strewn all over the floor of the offices and outside the site. One window appeared to have been smashed as well.

An 'aggressive stand-off' between the firm and travellers resulted in the police being called.

Pictured are smashed plates and paperwork scattered all over the floor of one of the offices

Today, the brewery took to Twitter to reveal the damage caused to their site

One of the windows in an office appears to have been smashed since the travellers invaded

A mob of 100 travellers have invaded the historic Thwaites Brewery and 'evicted' staff from entry

The travellers forced their way in to the family-run business around 8pm on Saturday and Thwaites bosses said the site has become 'a disgusting mess'.

A spokesman for the company told The Sun: 'We have effectively been evicted from our head office and brewery site by a group of up to 100 travellers who are now denying us access in an aggressive stand-off.

'Hourly the site is being degraded and in the space of a day has become a disgusting mess.'

Today, the brewery took to Twitter to reveal the damage caused to their site.

One tweet read: 'We have our Brewery back, but it’s going to be some time before we get it back to normal.

'Luckily, we can count on our fantastic team who’ve all come to help clean up the mess. Thanks again for everyone’s support over the weekend!'

The firm created a crisis centre for their customers, as they waited for the courts to open today after the bank holiday, to get an eviction notice.

Employees at the Blackburn plant were stunned to find it taken over with 21 caravans and 25 vehicles, as the trespassers set up camp in their workplace

Paperwork and files are left strewn on the floor outside the Thwaites Brewery

A Thwaites spokeswoman Sam Thomas thanked the police and support from local MPs

A Thwaites spokeswoman Sam Thomas thanked the police and support from local MPs

Lancashire Police said the travellers were warned a number of times, before they left in the early evening yesterday.

Supt Russ Procter said: 'Following police intervention and with cooperation from those on the site, all the travellers have now left Thwaites Brewery in Blackburn.

'We are aware of concerns regarding alleged criminality at the brewery and are seeking to investigate any offences committed.'

A Thwaites spokeswoman Sam Thomas thanked the police and support from local MPs.