HUNDREDS of ale-lovers raised a glass to lifesaving volunteers by enjoying a tipple at Harwich and Dovercourt Bay’s Winter Ale Festival.

The festival was hailed a great success by both organisers and guests and people came from as far as Manchester to sample the range of Belgian and Dutch beers, real ales, ciders and perries available.

By the end of the festival 53 casks of real ale had been emptied.

Festival organiser Jeff Luesley said: “Everyone was praising the Harwich Festival’s beer list which means that people will come back again next year.

"The quality of the list was down to beer manager Ken Brand and we cannot thank him enough for what he has achieved.”

He added: “The Harwich Beer Festival has become a pre-Christmas favourite for so many people and I’m sure that no one went home disappointed from our 2014 event.”