ONE of the North's biggest beer festivals is to return to its former home as it attempts to regain its prominence in the real ale calendar.

A shortage of volunteer helpers led to organisers of the Durham Beer Festival scaling down the event in recent years.

The Durham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale abandoned its summer festival venue, at Dunelm House, home of Durham University's Students' Union, in New Elvet, in favour of more intimate pub settings.

But the reinvigorated branch, bolstered by fresh blood following an appeal for new members over the past 18 months, plans to return the festival to Dunelm House in August.

Branch chairman Ken Weaver said the festival was traditionally among the biggest in the North in its heyday.

He said: "We've budgeted for it, and sorted out staffing matters, and we think we can make a real go of it back at Dunelm House.

"It's not going to be on quite the same scale as it was at its peak, when it was a major event, but we'll see how it goes and possibly build from there.

"Rather than take up the entire main ballroom we're going to base it on one of the upper floors at Dunelm House, but that still gives us scope to have up to 60-different beers available.

"It's pencilled in for the traditional weekend at the end of August and so it will follow on nicely from the bank holiday festival at the Grey Horse in Consett the previous weekend."

The festival, the biggest north of Leeds at its peak, has alternated round various popular pub venues with real ale drinkers, particularly the Woodman Inn, in Durham, in recent years.

For details about the branch and festival call Mr Weaver, on 0191-384 4389.