MORE than 3,000 pints of real ale were consumed at Ely s Elysian Beer Festival over the weekend, and organisers have declared it the most successful yet. The Larkfields Centre was full to capacity on Friday, and more than 1,000 visitors took the chance t

MORE than 3,000 pints of real ale were consumed at Ely's Elysian Beer Festival over the weekend, and organisers have declared it the most successful yet.

The Larkfields Centre was full to capacity on Friday, and more than 1,000 visitors took the chance to sample dozens of varieties of real ale over the two-day event.

"We started with 32 barrels, but we had to re-order twice," festival spokesperson Alison Pyrah said.

Real ale enthusiasts could try locally-brewed ales from the Fenland Brewery in Little Downham, Cambridge Moonshine and the Hereward Brewery in Ely, as well as beers from further afield, including Essex-based Nethergate and Bedford's Charles Wells.

The festival was organised by the Ely and District branch of Camra - The Campaign for Real Ale. For more information about the group, visit www.elycamra.org.uk.