HUNDREDS enjoyed warming winter ales, ciders and wine at the start of the Tenth Annual Colchester Winter Ale Festival.

The popular event at the Colchester Arts Centre in Church Street began at 12 noon on Wednesday and runs until tomorrow Saturday night.

Already a couple of beers sold out on the first day- the Bladderwrack black porter from the Famous Railway Tavern Brewery in Brightlingsea and the Crouch Vale Eldorado golden ale.

But there remains more than 140 real ales and 30 real ciders for drinkers to enjoy.

Essex beers are a festival focus, with the recently-launched Colchester “nano brewery” Watson’s Brewery supplying its first cask for the occasion.

English wines from Mersea Island are also on offer, along with a Belgian beer section.

Colchester and North East Essex CAMRA chairman Alan Wareham said there were “good numbers” on Wednesday, perhaps around 600 of the 3,000 expected over the four days and nights.

“It was a great opening day. We were busy and it is good to see people still appear to have some money to support real ales and ciders and enjoy themselves.”

Drinkers came from across Essex for the event, which featured more darker ales than usual, such as stouts and porters, to reflect that it is a winter festival.

For the first time, gluten free bottled beers were also sold, to account for demand for them from those with Coeliac disease.

Mr Warham said: “They have gone very well.”

Food is on offer, with “Ken the Curry Man” of Colchester market fame supplying curries. The Mersea Vinyards BBQ providing hot dogs, burgers and steak rolls.

Crisps, nuts and pork scratchings are also sold.

The event is staffed by all volunteers and with drinking lasting until 11pm, it means a busy time for Mr Wareham and his team, with him staying up until 1am, But it’s all worth it for the organisation, whose chosen charity this year is the Colchester Samaritans.