FOR years landlord Graham Ford has been pouring other people's beers but soon he will be serving - and tasting - his own.

Mr Ford and a group of regulars have brewed 40 pints of stout to be sampled at the beer festival in his pub, The Beamish Mary Inn at No Place, near Stanley.

The pub has long been a draw for fans of real ale and ten years ago it was voted national pub of the year.

In recent years Mr Ford has challenged his regulars to select good brews from producers up and down the country, awarding the pub's FA (Firkin Ale) Cup to whoever selected the beer voted best in the festival.

But this year he decided to do something different.

The Beamish brewers were helped by the pub's former landlord, John Taylor, who is hoping to set up his own brewery.

"The beer is being casked and is on conditioning at the moment,'' said Mr Ford.

"It has turned out to be four per cent strength and is looking good."

The festival, which runs from Friday, January 28 to Sunday January 30, will feature 22 ales, and there will be folk music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

Mr Ford's beer, likely to be called Taylors on the Bank Extra Stout, will be given out free, but revellers will be able to make a donation to the Tsunami Disaster Fund.

Admission to the festival is free. For further details call the pub on 0191-370 0237.