DRINKERS have been left scratching their heads over an advert for a beer they haven't been able to buy for 10 years.

On the side of the deserted Boulevard pub in Blackburn a huge sign advertises Tuborg lager, which hasn't been sold in this country for years.

The sign, around one metre high and five metres wide, is in a prime spot for advertising, but curious pedestrians are wondering why it is still there as they can't pop into local pubs and buy the beer!

The premium-strength European lager was sold in this country until about a decade ago, after the brewery merged with lager giant Carlsberg.

Andy Cariou, 40, of King Street Blackburn said: "I drink lager, but I've never had Tuborg. I've heard of it before, but I haven't seen it in pubs for ages.

"I remember it from years ago, when I was younger and used to go to pubs.

"They're getting some good advertising there aren't they? But it's funny it's advertising something that you can't even get around here!

"You would have thought that someone would have bought the space on the wall and put their own advert up."

Andy Paylor, 31, of King Street, said: "I have never had Tuborg lager. It's a bit of a mystery why it's there if they don't sell it in this country any more.

"I don't know why the pub didn't take it down when they closed."

Tuborg was advertised in this country on television with a popular advert using the Wham! song Wake me up (Before you go go).

The Boulevard, formerly the Star and Garter, was a Thwaites pub, but was sold some time ago to a private businessman who has now put the building on the market.

It is thought the sign was put up when Thwaites pubs still sold Tuborg to drinkers.

Raymond Goldstone, president of the Blackburn and District Chamber of Trade, said: "It's the longest of long-distance advertising!

"Somebody must have paid for the sign initially. It's a good transit point for advertisers, with plenty of people walking past."

Roger Protz, editor of the Good Beer Guide, said: "It's very strange indeed to see a billboard for it. It's a bit like when you see signs on pubs for breweries that no longer exist, and it's fun to spot them.

"In the case of Tuborg it's very weird to have one when you can't even get it in this country.

"Tuborg merged with Carlsberg some time ago, I think about 20 years ago. They were the two large Danish breweries and they merged.

"But the beer is still made. I was in Russia a year ago and it was even made there under licence. It's a pity because there was one variety of Tuborg, called Tuborg Gold, which was a very nice beer."

Nobody from Carlsberg was available for comment.