A CRICKET club’s successful year on and off the field has been toasted with an end-ofseason celebration.

The second Chester-le-Street Cricket Club Beer Festival proved a big hit among real ale enthusiasts and others.

Twenty-six drinks were on offer, but by 10pm on Saturday, the last of the 1,584 pints was sunk. The first to be finished was the strongest on offer – the ten per cent Paradox Brew Dog Arran.

Jonathan Alderslade, who organised the festival despite being only 21, said: “It has been a year to remember, with the cricketers winning the ECB Club Championship, the North-East Premier League and 20-20 Cup, while we were named North-East and Durham Club of the Year with one of the beers by the Campaign for Real Ale.

“It has been busy, and stressful at times, but everyone has played their part.”

A donation from the weekend’s proceedings will be given to Willowburn Hospice, in Lanchester, County Durham.