Punters have already got their pint glasses at the ready for the sixth Wellingborough Beer Festival.

And real ale lovers are keen to prove their beers, lovingly made in small cellars across the county, are a match for the big names.

Brian Garley, who has helped organise the festival at All Saints Church Hall, in Midland Road, Wellingborough, said: "We have been increasing the amount of ale we order in every year. It has grown so much. It is a community event for the town.

"It is a chance to see what Northamptonshire has got in the way of beers and a chance for local brewers to showcase real ales."

The Wellingborough Beer Festival became an annual event in 2003 when drinkers downed 20 barrels over the course of the event. It has grown steadily year-on-year and a total of 35 barrels of real ale were on sale last year.

And because the festival ran out of beer last year, organisers have ordered in 40 barrels this year.

Mr Garley said: "I think the real ales on offer here are much better than the drink you get in many mainstream pubs. The man has attended to it personally in a small cellar in Wellingborough or Kettering and has nurtured it himself. It is lovely."

The festival, organised by the Wellingborough Old Grammarians Club and Wellingborough Chamber of Commerce, will be open from 4pm to 11pm on Thursday, September 4, and Friday, September 5. It will be open from midday on Saturday, September 6.

There will also be entertainment from Doctor Busker on Thursday, Robbo and Friends on Friday and the Northamptonshire Youth Orchestra on Saturday.

It costs £3.50 to enter, with proceeds given to charities.