One of the leading figures in the protest is Bruce Jones, better known as Coronation Street''s Les Battersby.

He is to join the Transport and General Workers'' Union, the Campaign for Real Ale and Manchester City Council to outline the latest stage of the Save Boddingtons campaign.

At a press conference at Manchester Town Hall, the T&G will announce a ballot result which will decide whether Boddingtons workers will strike over plans to close the Strangeways brewery.

It will also reveal how the drive to save the historic site is progressing.

CAMRA leaders will stress what they believe is the importance of maintaining robust brands at a time of concentration by big brewers, such as Boddingtons'' parent company Interbrew, which is looking to shut the Manchester plant.

Manchester City Council representatives are also expected to lend their weight to the campaign by underlining the historic links between Boddingtons and the city.

Campaigners claim that since the last threat of closure in 2002, the Boddingtons brand has grown by 4%, contributing to £16.5m profits.

Belgian giant Interbrew confirmed last month that it plans to shut the Strangeways site next February.

It blamed the decision, which will result in the loss of 55 jobs, on poor sales.