TWENTY-FIVE real ales and four ciders will be on tap at the first Darlington Rugby Club beer festival.

The event at Blackwell Meadows will start on Friday and run all weekend until the beer runs out, says organiser Michael Stowe.

The festival, sponsored by North Yorkshire brewery Theakstons, will feature local ales from Daleside Brewery, in Harrogate, Richmond Brewery and the Darlington-based Schoolhouse Brewery.

Another local brewery, Mithril Ales, based in Aldbrough St John, near Richmond, was approached by Darlington FC to produce a special beer for the festival.

The Heading Home ale has been produced to celebrate the club's expected return to Darlington at the start of next season when it will play its home games at Blackwell Meadows.

For every pint sold, 20p will go to the football club's Back to Darlington fund.

Mithril has produced another special beer for the festival. The rugby club held a competition to find a name for the beer, with Scrum Dog judged to be the winner.

The club member who came up with the name will be handed a free drink and a Mithril polo shirt.

Mr Stowe said the event was timed to coincide with all three senior teams playing at home on Saturday and the women's team at home on Sunday, as well as the start of the Six Nations tournament.

"As well as raising some money for the rugby club, we wanted to introduce people to some of our local breweries and let people know there is an alternative to the mass-produced ales," he added.

The festival starts on Friday at 2pm. The bar will be open from noon until around 1am on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. All welcome.