A PUB that has provided 160 different beers in the course of a year has been picked as the best real ale pub in the North-East.

The vast array of beers and ales from as far afield as Orkney and Devon have put The Ship Inn in Middlestone Village, County Durham, on the map.

Graham and Liz Snaith's approach to the traditional pint impressed the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) to such an extent that it has awarded the Ship Inn with the title of North East Pub of the Year.

The couple plunged in at the deep end when they took over the Ship Inn 14 months ago because previously Graham ran a car hire company and Liz worked at a building society.

Liz said: "They weren't just looking for ales when they were judging the pub, it was also about the ambience of the pub, how polite you are to customers, things like that.

"We're delighted to win the contest."

Drinkers will be able to help celebrate when the pub holds its second beer festival of the year this weekend. Sixteen cask conditioned ales will be available.