The island’s Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney, is to officially open the sixth CAMRA Isle of Man Beer and Cider Festival.

The festival is being staged, as last year, in the Villa Marina’s Royal Hall from April 6 to 8.

The logo for this year’s festival features an historic Douglas bay horse tram and Sir Richard will be conveyed from Derby Castle to the Villa Marina aboard the Okell’s double-decker tram for the opening ceremony.

This year’s festival will feature over 150 real ales, 40-plus ciders, perries and fruit wines, so there will be something on offer to suit everyone’s taste, organisers believe.

As well as a programme of music on Friday and Saturday evenings, food will be available throughout the festival and the Grand National will be screened there on Saturday.

Tickets for the festival have been pegged at last year’s price of £5 and are now on sale at the Villa-Gaiety box office, Sea Terminal and online.

The festival’s organisers are seeking new members to help with the festival.

All CAMRA members working at the festival are volunteers who give their time freely. As the event has grown so more people are needed.

From the initial setting up on Monday, April 3, to the taking down on Sunday, April 9, the organisers would love to hear from people willing to lend a hand.

Tasks vary from building the stillages, stacking the casks, installing the cooling system, dispensing the beers and ciders, front of house duties to the final dismantling and clearing of the Royal Hall.

Help is needed for all sessions but volunteers are not expected to attend every session - only when they are available.

Ideally, volunteers should be CAMRA members.

The cost of annual membership is £24 and benefits include £20 Wetherspoon’s beer vouchers, a monthly newspaper, quarterly ’Beer’ magazine plus discounted entry to beer festivals around the British Isles.

Anyone wishing to join should e-mail Darren Shaw [email protected] or Julie Jones [email protected]