REAL ale lovers were toasting a stalwart of one of the North-East's biggest beer festivals last night.

A special beer has been brewed to mark the efforts of Eddie Turner in keeping the Durham Beer Festival alive during a slump in its fortunes.

The former chairman of the Durham branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) ensured the annual jamboree of traditionally-brewed beers remained a fixture on the calendar despite a dwindling band of helpers.

But with the festival, in its 25th year, now enjoying a revival, Turner's Tipple should be among the most revered offerings to the thousands of real ale connoisseurs gathering at Dunelm House, the Durham Students' Union complex, in New Elvet, over the next two days.

Festival regular Darwin Brewery, of Sunderland, has supplied the one-off beer, as a mark of its gratitude to Eddie and his wife Karen.

Turner's Tipple is among 82 beers on the menu at the three-day festival.

The festival, which began last night, runs from 11am to 11pm today and tomorrow.

Admission is £1.50, or free to Camra members, with half-pint tokens available at a standard £1 each, although there is a small surcharge for stronger beers.