REAL ale lovers are raising their glasses to a Bolton pub's 11th annual beer festival.

The Howcroft Inn's beer extravaganza features 215 types of ale, 26 types of lager and seven different ciders.

And the first of the 5,000 people expected to visit the festival have already started to pour into the huge marquee at the rear of the Pool Street pub.

When the five days of hard drinking are over, more than 20,500 pints will have been drunk.

Beers from the length and breadth of the land with bizarre names, ranging from Luscious Louise to Nessie's Monster Mash, will be on tap.

All beers will be stocked behind the 100ft bar, along with 14 brews from Bolton's own Bank Top Brewery which has once again lent its support to the festival.

When the last of the pint pots is drained on Sunday afternoon, organisers hope to have raised a record £30,000 for Bolton Lads and Girls Club.

The festival runs until Sunday afternoon, from 7pm until midnight today and tomorrow, between 12 noon and 6pm on Saturday and from 12 noon to 4pm on Sunday. Admission is between £3 and £5, but free on Sunday.