Darlington branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is holding a beer festival next week at what it calls a "sizeable sideshow" of the 16th annual Spring Thing folk festival at Darlington Arts Centre.

Organisers stress that admission to the beer hall is open to everyone, folk fans or not, free of charge.

Nearly 4,000 pints of real ales and ciders will be available.

The festival runs from next Thursday to Sunday, at the Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington.

Opening times of the festival are 7pm to 11pm on Thursday, 12pm to 3pm and 6pm to 11.30pm on Friday, 11.30am to 11.30pm on Saturday and 12pm to 4pm on Sunday