A COLLECTOR is agonisingly close to getting his hands on an elusive brewery tray.

Breweriana collector Richard Percival, 50, is hunting for an alloy brewery tray issued by Reffells Bexley Brewery Ltd, based in Bourne Road until the 1950s.

Since News Shopper published his story earlier in the month, he has received four phone calls.

In one answer phone message left on April 13, a man said he had the missing tray but failed to leave contact details for Mr Percival to return the call.

The collector, who lives in Leicestershire, said: “I sat with my wife listening to the messages and when we heard it we thought this is the one.

“He said he will call back some other time - I had my head in my hands saying I don’t believe it.”

Mr Percival is appealing to the caller to ring him back.

Reffells Bexley Brewery Ltd started life as the Reffell Brothers Brewery in 1876, closing 80 years later in 1956.