PLENTY of punters made a village’s beer festival its best ever.

The Five Bells pub, in Colne Engaine, showcased 40 real ales, beers and ciders at the four-day event.

Landlord Darran Lingley said: “It has been absolutely fantastic.

“We had a representative from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) come down to check us out. We sold more than 1,200 pints of real ale on Saturday. It was absolutely mobbed all day.

“Friday was very similar. It was the most successful in the five years we have been running it.”

Many brewers attended to talk about their ales.

Among the most popular served were Rampant Hop, made by Shalford Brewery, and Apollo, by Crouch Vale in South Woodham Ferrers. Money was raised for Help for Heroes and Essex Air Ambulance.