DAVID Cameron visited Chiswick's Griffin brewery for a private tour and was challenged over the issue of beer duty.

The Conservative Party leader joined parliamentary candidate for Brentford and Isleworth Mary Mcleod at the Fuller, Smith and Turner family-owned brewery this week.

The visitors met Fuller's board members for an informal discussion before being taken on a tour, followed by a question and answer session with employees.

The visit was an opportunity to discuss beer duty, which has risen 26 per cent in 25 months, and the regulation of the beer and pub industry.

Richard Fuller, a Fuller's director, said: "We hope that whoever forms the next government will take a serious look at the damage that recent policies have done and will make changes to help preserve the iconic British pub industry, which employs 540,000 people directly and a further 380,000 through associated trades."