A CHARITY appeal is giving drinkers the perfect excuse to pop down to the pub for a pint this Christmas.

To mark this year's Giving Tree Appeal, a Darlington pub has brewed a special pint for ale-lovers to sup while they make a donation to the charity.

The mouth-watering scheme could certainly make this Christmas a very merry one, with the landlord of the Number Twenty2 pub in the town giving £1 to the appeal for every pint of Giving Tree Ale that is sold.

To mark the forthcoming launch of the annual event, which last year raised £30,000 for disadvantaged families in Darlington, Councillor Bill Dixon enjoyed a pint with landlord Ralph Wilkinson.

Coun Dixon, cabinet member for social services and deputy leader of Darlington Borough Council, said the scheme would give plenty of people the perfect excuse to go to the pub.

He said: "I think it is a fantastic idea and will mean that people can enjoy a pint or two as well as give to charity.

"We hope to beat last year's figure of £30,000, and I suppose people can get merry at Christmas while they help to make someone's Christmas the best they've ever had."

The fourth Giving Tree Appeal is supported by The Northern Echo, Alpha Radio 103.2, Darlington Council for Voluntary Service, the Mardi Gras nightclub and Asda.

The appeal features a series of fundraising events, with the official launch taking place tomorrow.

The launch will be at Number Twenty2, in Coniscliffe Road, at 7pm, and will feature a raffle offering autographed bottles of House of Commons whisky, chocolates and cuddly toys as prizes. All the money raised will be used to buy gifts and food hampers for disadvantaged children, elderly people and families in Darlington.