BEER fan Alan Campbell was so determined his favourite brew should be included in a beer festival he drove hundreds of miles to collect it.

The Consett taxi driver is a fan of Fraoch, which is brewed in Scotland, with heather rather than hops.

When he heard that The Grey Horse in Sherburn Terrace, Consett, was holding another beer festival he urged landlord Paul Conroy to include it.

And he drove up to the Heather Brewery in Strath Haven, Lanarkshire, to get a barrel.

"We have never actually had it before, but according to Alan it is the business," said Mr Conroy.

"He actually likes it so much he drove up in his taxi to get it."

"We'll give everything a chance - there is another beer with gooseberries in the festival."

The festival takes place throughout the bank holiday weekend and will feature 32 real ales and 23 whiskies.

As well as the pub's own brews, including Derwent Rose, local breweries such as Darwin, Castle Eden and Mordue will be featured, along with some from further afield.

"This is the third festival we have organised and the previous ones have been absolutely smashing," Mr Conroy said.

"We started it because I got fed up of going to festivals and having to organise transport.

"We thought that rather than bringing the people to the beer we'd bring the beer to the people."