Real ale fans pour into Shrewsbury for festival

Hundreds of eager ale drinkers poured into Shrewsbury to sample the wares of Britain's finest brewers. Doors opened yesterday to the Campaign For Real Ale Beer Festival at the Morris Hall, Bellstone in Shrewsbury.

Nigel Bevan, the festival organiser and branch secretary for CAMRA Shrewsbury and West Shropshire, said: "I reckon we are going to get around 700 to 800 people coming to the festival this year."

The festival has 40 beers raising a toast to CAMRA, which had celebrated its 40th birthday in March this year.

The festival includes the Shropshire Brewers' Challenge Cup competition, which is judged by a panel of industry experts.

It was won this year by Shires Brewery for its 'full bodied' and 'fruity' Redneck ale.

CAMRA has gained more than 10,000 members since August last year, with festival organisers claiming it shows the widening appeal of real ale.

Mr Bevan said: "More younger people and more females are joining.

"All three of my lads drink real ale."

Paul Griffiths, 32, a computer programmer who had travelled from Cardiff for the festival, said: "It is the first time I have been to a Shrewsbury beer festival.

"It is looking good so far and there is a good selection of beers. So far I like the Oxymoron from the Otley brewery."

The festival will run today from noon until 9.30pm.