Some 3,000 pints of beer and gallons of cider are ready to serve at the Caister Lifeboat Beer and Cider Festival - which starts at 6pm tonight (Friday).

The crew of the independent lifeboat have stocked 41 different ales and 14 ciders for this year’s three-day festival.

And they’ve booked more bands - with six performers ranging from blues to jazz, country to rock and the Beatles to Mumford and Son.

Andy Garnett, who organises the event, said: “Every year we’ve sold out of beer so we’ve ordered the most we’ve ever stocked. But we still hope to sell out.

“Last year we raised more than £7,000 and attracted hundreds of people over the three days we were open. It’s brilliant that people are having a good time while supporting us.”

This year the festival has been sponsored by several local companies. Lovewell Blake - the accounting firm which carries out the charity’s annual audits - has sponsored several of the beers.

Meanwhile Iceni Marine Services and Carters of Caister - firms founded by crewmembers - have paid for the Saturday night entertainment with Eddie Miller.

Several other businesses, including Lacons and Blackwell print, have supported the Beer and Cider Festival Guide - a 24-page booklet offering tasting notes on all the brews.

Food on Friday and Saturday is a fish and chips phone delivery service from Thompsons on Tan Lane, while on Sunday - Father’s Day - the crew will be cooking steak and chicken in salt and herb buns, burgers and hotdogs.

Andrew Turner, who’s a director of the charity and part of the crew, said the support had been phenominal.

He added: “The community and local businesses have really got behind this event, and that helps us get the festival set up and ensure we raise a good amount of money.

“This means we can put on the greatest music, serve the best beers and ciders, and make sure everyone has a good time.”

The Caister Lifeboat Beer and Cider Festival opens at 6pm tomorrow (Friday), noon to midnight on Saturday, noon to 4pm on Sunday. Entry costs £5 and INCLUDES the first pint. All profits go to Caister Lifeboat.