BEER lovers raised a toast to a hugely successful fourth annual CAMRA Bromsgrove Beer Festival.

The event, at Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club, in Finstall Park, was run by volunteer members of the Redditch and Bromsgrove branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and attracted hundreds of residents.

The three-day festival, from Thursday to Saturday, featured more than 80 real ales. To celebrate the anniversary of the Lickey Banker railway locomotive, which operated close to the rugby ground, a special beer from local brewery, Weatheroak Ales, called 'Big Bertha' was available. But this commemorative beer was so popular it sold out in just three hours.

As well as cask ales there were also real ciders and perrys, plus rare German beers.

Glorious weather and great beers and ciders contributed to a record breaking festival.

Over 1,500 visitors attended and sampled more than 5,000 pints of cool cask beer and 800 pints of cider and perry. The festival was opened by Norman Neasom, a local artist and Redditch and Bromsgrove CAMRA's oldest member at 90.

The beer of the festival was True Grit from Millstone Brewery of Manchester and the cider/perry of the festival was Hecks Hendre Huffcap Perry from Somerset.

More than £500 was raised for the festival charity - the Primrose Hospice, and 45 new CAMRA members were signed up with the furthest coming from Feltham, in Middlesex.

The West Midlands Premium Bitter of the Year was also judged at the festival. First was Mutley's Revenge from Spinning Dog Brewery, second was Stairway to Heaven from Burton Bridge Brewery, and third was White Star from Titanic Brewery.