REAL ale lovers got a taste for the forthcoming Bolton Beer Festival by raising a glass or two at a Bavarian night.

Guests enjoyed traditional German food and drink served up by volunteers in Bavarian attire — complete with dirndl and lederhosen — in the same marquee where the festival will open on Wednesday, in aid of Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

Saturday’s Bier-Fest which featured “Oompah-Tainment” from a traditional Oompah band was a sell-out, and raised money specifically to fund the club’s outreach work.

This year’s festival — described as the most popular social event in the town's calendar — will run until Saturday at Bolton Rugby Club and it is celebrating 21 years of Bolton’s biggest beer bash.

There will be more than 200 real ales, 60 lagers and 20 ciders — more than ever before — from around the world which can be sampled, together with live music, which includes Bolton band The Managers taking to the stage on Saturday.

Donna Fisk, the youth club’s fundraising manager, said: “We are hoping to have raised £5,000 from the Bavarian night which will go towards our Hub and Spoke programme, where we go out to young people who cannot come to the club because of transport costs.

She added: “The Beer Festival is one of our biggest fundraisers. It is these events which keep the doors of the club open seven days a week.

“It is completely staffed by volunteers and they enjoy it too. And on Thursday we have a Cajun Band playing.

“It is always a great atmosphere.”

The event is now held in memory of club supporter Vincent Kelly who died at the age of 50 in a plane crash in Nepal on the way to the Everest region in 2012.

The married father-of-two was an avid fundraiser for the club, and had raised money to help replace its old Astroturf pitch by cycling 874 miles from John O’Groats to Land’s End in 2011. A picture of him is given pride of place at the festival.

Tickets can be bought on the door or in advance. For more information, visit beer-festival.co.uk.