REAL ale lovers guzzled 7,000 pints at a South Lakeland market town's 27th annual beer festival.

Ulverston Beer Festival was hailed a success by organisers after almost all of the 860 gallons of ale and cider were sold to thirsty enthusiasts over the three-day event.

Dave Stubbins, chairman of CAMRA's Furness branch, which organised the festival, said: "It was excellent and we were just 20 short of 2,000 people.

"It was great seeing so many people enjoying themselves and we were delighted by the support.

"We had some superb comments from people from Lancashire who said it was the best festival in the northern circuit."

With 86 tipples on offer from across the country, the festival at Ulverston's Coronation Hall played host to more than 20 beers produced in Cumbria.

Making their debut were beers from the Tarn Hows Brewery, near Hawkshead, and Chadwick's Brewery, of Kendal - both of which sold out.

During the festival, which ran from Thursday to Saturday, members of the public and a panel of specialists voted for their favourites.

Cumbrian beer of the festival was shared between Barley Blonde, produced by Beckstones Brewery, near Millom, and Cartmel-based Unsworth's Yard Brewery's Last Wolf.

Winner of the visitor's beer award was Loch Ness Brewery's 80 Shillings while Yorkshire-based Hecks secured the cider of the festival title with its Port Wine Glastonbury.

Organiser Stephen Lewis said: "It went splendidly well and I was particularly pleased with the number of new volunteers we had. With 40 to 50 there over the weekend there were a lot of new faces."

Entertainment was provided by local bands on Friday and Saturday.