FINAL details have been announced for one of the region’s biggest beer festivals.

The Bent & Bongs Beer Festival, in association with CAMRA, will be held in the atmospheric L-shaped rooms of Formby Hall, Atherton, over the weekend of January 30 and 1 February.

Last year, thousands of visitors supped 8,250 pints of real ale, 3,130 pints of lager, 1,670 bottles of lager and 1,400 pints of cider, raising more than £20,000 for good causes.

The main beneficiary of the 2014 festival will be Atherton and Leigh Foodbank.

Other local charities and worthy causes will also be supported.

David Hughes, food bank secretary, said: “We are here for people who have nothing to back them up and are left without food.

“In the 12 months since we opened we have helped to feed 1,000 adults and 500 children and this event will help us feed more as every penny will go towards buying food and toiletries.”

Festival chair, Sarah Bellis said: “It’s amazing the number of people that visit the festival over the weekend and the amounts of beer involved is staggering.

“All the money raised ends up helping local people. When we decided on the foodbank, the committee could not think of a more worthy charity.”

The theme for this year's event is celebrating the 25 years of the festival, with a selection of beers and breweries with a “silver theme”.

The festival will be opened by BBC Radio Manchester breakfast show presenter Allan Beswick.

More than 80 real ales are have been ordered along with a dozen different ciders and a large selection of draught plus bottled beers, along with the usual selection of festival food.

The festival is open on Thursday, January 30, from 6pm to 11pm and Juke Box Heroes will be playing a Beatles themed set, for £5 entrance.

On Friday, the festival will open from 4pm to 11pm and will feature Run Out the Guns for £7 entrance.

People are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.

Saturday, February 1, will see two sessions from noon to 4pm and from 7pm to 11pm.

Admission for one Saturday session is £6.