ALE drinkers have gathered this weekend for Bolton's annual beer celebration.

The Bolton CAMRA Beer Festival 2018 is in full swing with more than 40 beers on offer as well as a selection of meads, ciders and perry.

The three day event offers Bolton's beer drinkers the chance to sample a whole host of regional beers, including Bolton-brewery Holywell's Holy Smoke, and few from further afield, like Pravda Beer Theatre's Citadel, all the way from Lviv, Ukraine.

Peter Kobryn, aged 55, has been organising the Bolton festival since 2013.

He said: "We don't have any beers here that aren't good. We refuse to take any beers we don't like.

"We want there to be total quality, there isn't a bad beer here."

He said his favourite of the festival was All on Black, created by Blackjack from Manchester and Blackedge from Horwich.

All on Black is one the collaboration beers on offer at the festival.

They also include Mind Meld, from Blackjack and Good Chemistry Brewing from Bristol, and Home and Rye, from Brewsmith Beer in Ramsbottom and the Rivington Brewing Co.

Mr Kobryn, said: "Over the years we have gained friends through our interest in beer and many places brew in great and contrasting styles.

"By getting them to collaborate we can unite people and get them to work together."

Linda Baxter, another beer festival organiser was pleased with the number of local brewers who were participating.

She said: "On Thursday night a lot of the breweries turned up, like Runaway, Brewsmith and Blackjack, they had never been before but felt more engaged, they said they really enjoyed it.

"They were all having a little brewers convention."

At the Ukrainian Club's own bar, drinkers can get their hands on a sup of mead, a fermented honey drink, from the Lancashire Mead Company, based in Horwich. A selection of their Norse-inspired drinks are on offer including Loki, Thor's Mead and Freya's Mead.

Local businesses are also at the festival keeping drinkers well fed.

Bavarian bakery, Pretzel & Spelt is there, with owner Angelika Searle replenishing her stock with fresh food regularly through the day.

Bolton Market's Nkono is also on hand, with exuberant chef Alain Job, serving up the likes of goat curry, skirt steak and salmon.

The festival has been running at the Ukrainian Club in Castle Street since Thursday and concludes tonight at 8pm, entry is £2. CAMRA members get in free.

Money raised by the beer festival will also go to support Bolton Hospice.