PINTS of the best pulled in bumper crowds over the bank holiday weekend at the Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival.Drinkers packed the historic Noble Hall at the Priory Centre knocking back about 400 gallons and 4,000 pints throughout the four day event.

PINTS of the best pulled in bumper crowds over the bank holiday weekend at the Great Yarmouth Beer and Cider Festival.

Drinkers packed the historic Noble Hall at the Priory Centre knocking back about 400 gallons and 4,000 pints throughout the four day event.

Around 80 real ales were on tap from the best of Norfolk and north Suffolk's independent producers.

Visitor numbers were higher than at the previous festival which attracted around 1,000 real ale enthusiasts.

Now in its second year, the festival, organised by Yarmouth based Blackfriars Brewery, has already become a big event in the town's calendar.

The mixed weather did not dampen the heady atmosphere with a line up of musicians providing plenty of toe-tapping entertainment.

Blackfriars owner Bill Russell said: “The beer festival was a stunning success and has gone really well, we do not have the exact number of visitors but it has certainly exceeded last year's figure.

“There was a really good natured atmosphere throughout, some very positive comments from the people who attended and all the volunteers did a marvellous job. We are already looking forward to coming back bigger and better next year.

“The Cider went incredibly well with some sold out by Saturday night and there were just a few barrels of beer left by the end.”

Glasses were raised as MP Tony Wright officially opened the festival at a special trade session on Friday.

The Yarmouth Mercury once again proudly joined the list of sponsors at the event that also included First Eastern Counties, GY Enterprises and the Beach Radio.