REAL ale fans, volunteers and businesses have been thanked for helping to make Northwich Beer Festival another great success.

The 23rd festival was organised by the Rotary Clubs of Northwich and Northwich Vale Royal, and was held at Northwich Memorial Court on Friday and Saturday.

It was attended by more than 800 people, and since it started has raised more than £100,000 for local good causes.

This year’s festival chairman John Walton said: “It was another successful beer festival, and it's amazing to think our local Rotary clubs have been doing this for 23 years.

“Thanks are due to so many people and organisations who come together to make the event happen.

“Volunteers from Rotary and other organisations, our charities and local good causes, staff at Brio Leisure, our local companies and individuals who sponsor barrels, our glass sponsor Club Class Travel and the people from Northwich and the surrounding area who come along to enjoy the event.

“Our thanks to all of them for their continued support, which makes it such a worthwhile event.”

Among the 56 beers on offer there was a beer for every taste, from Lymm’s Dam Strong Ale 7.2 per cent to Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde at 3.8 per cent.

Ciders were popular too, with 11 on offer, and among the best sellers were Nice Pear and Bottle Kicking’s Strawberry. Orchard Dew was the first cider to sell out.

This year for the first time there was a tasting competition at the Saturday lunch session.

Bar manager Rotarian Steve Wheat said Wobbly Bob was the most popular, followed by Castle Black, Equinox and Heritage Trail.

The festival’s old favourite Wobbly Bob was the first beer to sell out, followed by Honey Trap from the Spitting Feathers brewery.

Steve said: “Although numbers were slightly down at all sessions, the event was still a great success and was enjoyed by our community.”

On Friday evening Speakability, a self-help group for people who have speech problems after a stroke or head injury, ran the raffle and the Down Syndrome Support Group ran a tombola.

For the Saturday lunchtime session Men in Sheds brought examples of their work to raffle.

On Saturday evening Lostock Scouts ran a tombola with a table packed with prizes. The group is raising funds for its centenary celebrations.

Sandiway and Cuddington Playing Fields Association ran the raffle in aid of the children’s play area project.