A TIPPLE with a canine theme will be featured at an annual beer festival staged at a greyhound stadium this weekend.

The Westerhams British Bulldog and the Elgoods Greyhound Strong Bitter are just two ales available trackside at the Pelaw Grange Greyhound Stadium Beer Festival , which was launched on Thursday. The event will be held at 6.30pm until Monday.

Stadium owner Jeff McKenna said: "Our cellar is bulging with the beers and ciders for the festival.

"After the tremendous success of last year we decided to run the festival as an annual event.

"There will be about a dozen different cask-conditioned beers on offer from various breweries throughout the country."

The dog theme runs throughout the festival with beers such as Elgoods Breweries Black Dog and Salamander Breweries Mud Puppy on offer.

Local micro brewer, The Bull Lane Brewery at Hendon in Sunderland, has commissioned a special beer just for the festival, Little Louie, named after head brewer John Taylor's whippet-Bedlington cross terrier.