AN award-winning country pub is holding its first beer festival this weekend.

The Crown Inn, at Manfield, near Darlington, has organised entertainment and top quality beers for the three-day event.

Up to 14 real ales are on offer in a marquee that has been erected in the grounds and six other specialist beers are also on sale inside the pub.

Specialist foreign bottled beers are also on offer.

The Campaign for Real Ale, in Darlington, is supporting the event and a coach full of members sampled the delights of the festival last night.

The pub was recently named Country Pub of the Year by the Darlington branch.

Landlady Karen Hynes said: "We are hoping to get a good turn out over the weekend.

"Thanks to winning the Camra award we have had some publicity.

"I hope people come along, we have three weeks worth of beer to get through."

The festival opened last night and carried on till midnight.

It runs today from midday to midnight with entertainment provided by ceilidh band Beggars Bowl and on Sunday from midday until the beer runs out.