GLASSES have been raised in celebration after a Harwich brewed beer picked up the top prize at Colchester CAMRA's Summer Beer Festival.

Harwich Town Brewing Company's Misleading Lights beat more than 120 other real ales to take the Champion Beer of the Festival award.

The 4 per cent heavily hopped amber ale, is named after the lighthouses on Dovercourt seafront.

Brewer Paul Mellor said: "Colchester is a large CAMRA festival hosting over 120 real ales.

"I am absolutely delighted that Misleading Lights has been named the champion beer of the festival."

Nearly all of the brewery's beers have names with local connections.

Mr Mellor added: "Real ale enthusiasts are interested in the origins of a beer's name and I hope that brews such as Redoubt Stout, Bathside Battery and Parkeston Porter do a little bit to promote the area."

Previously real ales from the Harwich Town Brewing Company have won other awards at festivals and have featured at CAMRA's Great British Beer Festival in London.