Originally a state company, it was privatised during the Pinochet years and, as in similar cases in Britain, brought riches to its new owners. "His is one of the richest families in Latin America," said Dr Robinson Rojas, who lectures in London on the Pinochet era.Legal investigations in Switzerland, Spain and Luxembourg are soon likely to yield details of the benefits the Pinochet family has enjoyed since the general seized power in September 1973.The Pinochets' worldwide assets are believed to embrace Soquimich, the largest Chilean producer of iodine and nitrate fertiliser. His wife, Lucia, has claimed that she and her husband exist solely on his army pension. His supporters have done their utmost to buttress this image. And among Chilean journalists and politicians there is apprehension about the reaction of the military to inquiries in this sensitive area.Yet the Pinochet family is worth, say some Chilean politicians, tens of millions of pounds. The concerted and well-funded propaganda campaign on behalf of General Pinochet had striven to portray him as a scrupulously honest man who did not use his years in power to benefit financially. "Amalgamation is a bad thing for heritage, the local community and jobs We believe independent brewers give you a better beer.". AS AUGUSTO Pinochet waits the final few days to discover whether he has immunity from prosecution for human rights abuses, other investigations are under way to discover just how many millions the old dictator's family has salted away.

Only one small independent, Burton Bridge, remains.The national Campaign for Real Ale said the takeover had local implications in addition to job losses. "Independent brewers represent our heritage and consumer choice," said David Hawkins, Camra spokesman. In 1888, more than 8,000 people were employed in the industry Bass still employs 2,000 people in the town. Last year it took over a neighbouring brewery owned by Carlsberg- Tetley and is now making some of its giant rival's beer on its behalf. By the mid-19th century, just about every major British brewer had a satellite brewery in the town. The great names included Bass, Ratcliffe and Gretton, Charrington, Worthington and Ind Coope - all of which have now lost their independence. The local monks (Wulfric Spot, Earl of Mercia, founded Burton Abbey in 1002) were the first to realise the special quality of Burton's well water.

But in the long term, consolidation is inevitable, given the change in consumer tastes - you only have to look at all the wines in the supermarket."It is difficult to overstate the historical importance of Burton on Trent to the British ale tradition. "It's a great pity that a brewery like Marston's should lose its independence," he said. "The Hurdle family have run it for many years and it's quite sad to see that link broken. If all the independents are bought up then we get less choice and the price of beer goes up. Old Mr Hurdle [who founded Marston's] must be turning in his grave."Jim Ward, a former liaison officer for the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), who worked with Marston's, shared the sense of loss. "Something's gone out of this town and it is a shame," said Anthony Gilson, supping a pint of Pedigree in the Oak and Ivy pub. Mr Gilson, who worked for the company for 15 years, added: "We hoped Marston's would somehow pull a rabbit out of the hat, but it wasn't to be.

Both sides say the move prevented even more job losses.But locals feel the heart has been ripped out of Burton, as market forces and changing tastes put pressure on the industry to slim down. The deal will create Britain's largest regional brewer, with three breweries, almost 1,500 pubs, mainly in the north, and annual sales of around pounds 500m. But the story of independent brewing in Burton effectively came to an end last week, with the takeover of Marston's, brewers of the much-loved Pedigree ale, by a rival, and the loss of 250 jobs. The pounds 290m sale of Marston Thompson & Evershed's, one of Britain's best- known breweries, to Wolverhampton & Dudley Breweries, after an acrimonious takeover, leaves just one tiny brewer working in a town now dominated by conglomerates.Marston's headquarters will be closed, although its Shobnall Road brewery, run by the Hurdle family, which still produces its famous bottle-conditioned India Pale Ale, will stay open. IN ITS Victorian heyday, the Staffordshire town of Burton on Trent was filled with the heady smell of malt and hops.