The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has announced its support for a scheme to create a National Brewing Museum in Burton upon Trent.

A steering group led by Burton MP, Janet Dean, is looking to transform the former Coors Visitor Centre in the Staffordshire town, which closed at the end of June. The centre previously housed the Bass Brewery Museum, and CAMRA is now urging brewers and pub companies to back the proposed national museum to celebrate the industry's heritage.

CAMRA's regional director for the West Midlands, Nik Antona, said: "Now that we have promised to deliver a substantial donation to the project, pending the success of the 2008 Burton Beer Festival, it is hoped big brewers and pub companies will see the logic in supporting the establishment of a National Brewing Museum. "Renowned brewing nations such as Belgium, Poland and Denmark all have brewing museums, the Czech Republic even has two. Therefore how can we sit alongside these revered nations without a monument of our own."

Despite closing the visitor centre, Coors has agreed to keep everything in place provided the funding can be obtained by the end of the year. The initiative currently has an estimated annual deficit of £300,000 although the brewery company has pledged £200,000 for the first year of opening with a further £100,000 pledged for following years. A donation from the majority of proceeds generated at the Burton Beer Festival will also be put towards the new museum once it re-opens, in addition to a contribution from CAMRA. Together with expected support from other British brewery companies, it is hoped the new museum will become a reality by the end of the year.

"It must be stressed that this museum will celebrate the history of British brewing as a whole, and not just Bass and Coors as some have suggested," added Antona. "Burton has been immortalised throughout history as Britain's brewing capital, and we hope to contribute to a local economy that has traditionally thrived thanks to real ale and beer."