BEER enthusiasts managed to drink their way through more than 2,000 pints of beer and cider at this year's Richmond Ale Festival.

The town's Victorian Market Hall hosted its fourth ale festival, featuring 30 traditional brews.

Several hundred people came to enjoy hand-brewed beers from small craft breweries, and to be entertained at the same time.

Organised by the Campaign for Real Ale, the festival featured folk music and rock and blues sessions on the first two nights, as well as beer bread-making and pub walks at other times.

Branch chairman Vince Rutland said: "It was a tremendous event - very hard work for the volunteers who staffed it but great fun and good for Richmond.

"The event is becoming a major date in Richmond's calendar.

"It's all about spreading the word in a fun way that traditionally brewed real ale is a quality product and hopefully this will encourage more local pubs to stock guest beers."

Beer of the Festival, as voted for by those who attended, was Bete Noir Stout, brewed in Bradford, West Yorkshire, by Salamander Brewery.