The first pint is pulled at the 23rd Durham Beer Festival today.

Organisers from the city's branch of the Campaign for Real Ale hope to revive the event, among the biggest in the North at its peak, to its former glory.

Following smaller events at pubs in recent years, the festival returns to its former venue, at the Durham Students' Union building, Dunelm House, in New Elvet. Alastair Gilmour, named as Writer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers, will open the festival at 5pm.

It is open until 11pm tonight and from 11am to 11pm tomorrow and on Saturday.