HUNDREDS of real ale enthusiasts rolled up to Eastleigh over the weekend for the town annual beer festival.

A heady mix of local ales from Hampshire and other breweries around the country drew in scores of beer buffs from across the county. Organisers of the two-day event were delighted when they secured supplies of Moorhouse Black Cat, which recently scooped the title of champion British beer. Numerous fruit-flavoured beers were available to whet the appetite, plus a number of real ales from Ireland.

"In all we had more than 30 different beers which went down a treat," said festival spokesman Rob Whatley.