A THEATRE company has raised a glass to the winner of its annual Name the Ale competition ahead of their production of Twelfth Night.

For the sixth year running the Castle Players of Barnard Castle ran a competition to name a new ale brewed specially to mark their summer performance.

The winning name of 'Twelfth Pint' was chosen by both Sam Fells of Durham and Rachel Cawte of Ripon but it was Mr Fells' name that was pulled out of the deciding hat.

This week Mr Fells was invited along to the Mithril Ales microbrewery in Aldbrough St John, Richmond, where he was given the honour of tasting the first couple of pints of the 'Twelfth Pint' ale and celebrated his win with cast members.

Mr Fells also received two tickets to a performance of Twelfth Night, which will be staged in the grounds of The Bowes Museum for five nights from July 4 to 8.

The ale will be on sale in various places around Teesdale during the week of the performances and brewer Pete Fenwick said he hoped the new beer will be the perfect accompaniment to the show.

He said: "Twelfth Pint will be a 4.0 per cent golden beer, with a refreshing fruity hop flavour, perfect to watch Shakespeare in the grounds of The Bowes Museum."

Tickets to Twelfth Night are available via The Witham box office, either online, in person or by phone on 01833-631107.