DRINKERS from a County Durham pub have sunk pints in 449 watering holes as they make their way across Britain on a mammoth pub crawl.

The regulars at the Ship Inn, in Middlestone Village, are racing against the clock to visit every one of the 5,000 pubs listed in the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) Good Beer Guide in 12 months. The pubs are situated in some far-flung locations, such as the Old Ford Inn, accessible only by walking 15 miles across the Scottish Highlands or by ferry, or others situated on the Isle of Wight or in Northern Ireland.

Landlord and landlady Graham and Liz Snaith, who assigned punters their task, have calculated that 13 pubs a day need to be visited to meet the target.

The couple came up with the idea after finishing runner up in this year's Camra Pub of the Year contest and have made sure they have lent a hand with the challenge.

Mr Snaith said: "We went to Derbyshire last week, but talk about a busman's holiday - we visited 42 pubs. Another couple from here recently went away on holiday and did 54 in a week.

"But we're still under target. It's Day 48 and we're 209 short, but to be honest I'm surprised we've done as many as we have.

"It's dirty work, but somebody's got to do it."

Pub crawl participants have to collect a memento from each ale house and take them back to the pub.

On March 2, the first auction of souvenirs, ranging from T-shirts to bottles of whisky, will take place to raise money for the Butterwick Hospice in Bishop Auckland.

Follow the progress on the Ship Inn website http://wearvalleycamra.co.uk/shipinn.ht