PINTS of fine ale will be flowing down the hatches of pub-hopping punters at the Broughton Beer Festival this weekend.

An extra 50 ales will be on pump from today (Friday) to Sunday at the village's watering holes including The Manor, High Cross, Black Cock, Old King's Head, Blacksmith Arms and Prince of Wales at Foxfield as well as The Newfield Inn in the Duddon Valley.

Beers with such evocative names as Umbel Magna, Bear Ass and Rivet Catcher are on the menu with concoctions from local breweries including the Foxfield Brewery. To help ensure visitors can enjoy the full delights of the festival, an inter-pub shuttle bus is being laid on.

Music will also be accompanying the beer quaffing up at the High Cross Inn where landlord Chris Burgess is celebrating his departure for what he's calling "a gap year at 50" with a full line up.

Acts include Blues/Rock act Alligator Jo on Friday night, Ray Stubbs on Saturday and local maestro Dapper and friends on Sunday.

See www.broughton festivalofbeer.org.uk for full listings of ales and bus times.

- The 12th Westmorland Beer Festival is taking place at Kendal Town Hall until tomorrow (Saturday), with more than 50 real ales and several ciders on offer.

- The Miles Thompson, in Allhallows Lane, Kendal, will be staging its own beer festival to run from Monday, October 31, to Sunday, November 13, with all beers priced at £1.59 a pint.