It is an English tradition, dating from the Roman invasion 2,000 years ago, that Alastair Simms thought might die out when he hangs up his hammers, chisels and axes.

But yesterday Mr Simms, the country's only remaining master cooper, was wondering how to deal with almost 1,000 job applications after mentioning that he would like an apprentice.

"We've been absolutely overwhelmed," said Mr Simms, 45, as he went about repairing and making wooden ale casks at Wadworth Brewery in the Wiltshire market town of Devizes.

"We're getting to almost 1,000 applications from people all over the country. I thought we'd be lucky if we got half a dozen. It's been amazing.

"It's nice to know that so many people want to carry on making traditional wooden casks for traditional English beer.

"I think the reaction is because in this day and age it's become an unusual job. It's quite eccentric really. It's also a very green occupation, utilising a renewable resource."

Mr Simms, who began his apprenticeship in the art of barrel-making on his 16th birthday – May 10, 1979 – has been shaping, repairing and renovating wooden casks at Wadworth for 14 years.

During the first half of the 20th century there were about 600 traditional-style coopers at work in Britain, skilfully bending and hammering out sturdy oak barrels for countless millions of pints.

But timber shortages and the arrival during the late 1960s of mass-produced modern metal barrels have all but consigned the craft to the scrapheap.

Last week, the Western Daily Press reported on how he would like to take on an apprentice to enable Wadworth – famous for its dray horses – to continuing rolling out the wooden barrels.

His appeal "went ballistic", having been widely circulated – especially on the internet – which resulted in applications for the four-and-a-half year apprenticeship gushing in like a newly tapped barrel of Wadworth 6X.

Yorkshireman Mr Simms said: "It'll take a while to sort out and find the right man – or woman. It'll probably be about 12 months.

"We're likely to end up with maybe 12 and invite them down to see how they handle the tools."