REAL ALE lovers are in for a treat when the Guisborough Beer Festival opens its doors to to those thirsting for wide variety of tasty tipples.

Now in its fourth year, the festival will be helping to raise money for the cardiac MRI scanner appeal at James Cook University Hospital.

The Rotary Club of Guisborough & Great Ayton, joint organisers of the festival with the Cleveland Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and Guisborough & District Round Table, will be contributing to the appeal, which needs a further £500,000 to ensure the North-East hospital has a state-of-the-art specialist heart scanner.

Several local breweries will be supplying their beers, but most will be from further afield, with a particular emphasis this year on those from West Yorkshire.

For those not into beer, there are real ciders, perry and a range of fruit wines on the cards.

“Our first three beer festivals have all been hugely successful," said Rotarian Paul Whitefoot, chairman of the organising committee. "These popular social events, involving many people in the local community, have already raised £15,000 for charity. We are delighted this year to be joining other Rotary Clubs in the North East in raising funds for the much-needed Cardiac MRI Scanner at James Cook University Hospital.”

Throughout the festival, members of St Nicholas Parish Church will be on hand to provide hot and cold food, and it will again feature the specially-made steak and ale pies from Enfield Butchers in Guisborough that were such a success last year.

The tombola will be run by Footprints in the Community, a charitable organisation that runs a variety of services, including a community cafe, food-bank, good quality used baby equipment and The Beacons, which helps to address isolation and poverty in Redcar and district.

The festival will be held on Friday, April 10 and Saturday, April 11 in the Parish Hall, Bow Street, Guisborough from 11am to 4pm and 6pm to 11pm on each day. Some 36 different real ales are available at the festival, a total of more than 2,500 pints.

Ticket prices are £3 for the lunchtime sessions and £5 for the evening sessions. The price includes a programme describing the beers and a free commemorative glass. Card-carrying CAMRA members receive a £1 discount, payable on entry.

Tickets can be purchased from Guisborough Bookshop in Chaloner Street, Guisborough or by sending an S.A.E. and cheque made payable to "Guisborough Beer Festival" to "Melandra”, Belmangate, Guisborough, TS14 7BD.