CHARITIES are more than £1,200 better off thanks to some big-hearted beer lovers.

The Masham-based brewery T and R Theakston, best known for ales such as Old Peculier, has donated the cash through its Paradise Fund.

The fund, named after Paradise Fields, the land on which the brewery was built in 1875, was set up to support local charities and initiatives.

The brewery raises the money by challenging guests at its visitor centre to "raise a barrel" under the tutelage of resident cooper Jonathan Mamby.

Theakston is one of the few remaining breweries to retain the services of a cooper and Mr Mamby is a skilled exponent of the art of creating hand-made casks.

He said: "Barrel raising is the first stage of creating a new cask by arranging wooden staves within a metal hoop and visitors who can get to grips with it will raise cash for charity."

Organisations and charities that have benefited include the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, St Mary's Church choir in Masham and Masham Junior Sports Association.