ONE of the region’s biggest annual beer festivals is to return over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Real ale fans will have up to 80 beers and ciders to choose from during the eighth beer festival held at Shotley Bridge Cricket Club.

From humble beginnings in 2008 with just 20 beers on offer, the festival has grown to be a three-day event with dozens of tipples to try from as far afield as Devon and the Orkney Islands.

The festival takes place at the club’s Spa Grounds on Friday, August 28 from 6pm to 11pm and again on Saturday and Sunday (Aug 29-30) from 11am to 11pm.

Admission is £5 per person, which includes programme and commemorative glass.

Prices have remained fixed at £1 for a half pint throughout the festival’s history, the only exception being the 8.5 per cent Skullsplitter, from the Orkneys which costs £2 for a half.

Each of the 50 beers and 30 ciders are sponsored by a local business.

Duo The Buskers will perform on Sunday afternoon and a charity cricket match for the Stewart Weightman Trophy will take place on Sunday, starting at 1pm.

Festival chairman John Turner said the beers were sourced and maintained by Martin Hammill of Hadrian Border Brewery.

He added: “The festival's popularity has increased over the years so there’s bound to be a good turnout”.

For more information about the festival, the beers and their sponsors, please visit www.shotleybeerfestival.co.uk