A MICROBREWERY has invited the winners of its annual Name the Ale competition to add the hops to their beer – and they will also get the honour of sampling the first pints to be pulled of the brew.

Pete Fenwick, who owns Mithril Ales, based in Aldbrough St John, near Richmond, said the competition had been running since 2012 in association with Barnard Castle Players.

He said: "We did our first brew for the Castle Players in 2012, at the Old Well in Barnard Castle. It was called As You Like It, the Shakespeare play they were performing at the time.

"Since then we have done a Name the Ale competition, and this year's winners, Chris and Mike Powell from Stanley named it Damned Spot, as the players will perform Macbeth form July 10."

Mr and Mrs Powell will pull the first pint of the ale at the Old Well next week.

The ale will be available in pubs including the Old Well, Barnard Castle, High Force Hotel, The Ship in Richmond, and Cafe 1618 in Middleton-in-Teesdale.