The sixth Isle of Man CAMRA beer and cider festival has been hailed as the most successful ever by both the organisers and visitors.

More than 3,000 people attended the event and more than 10 per cent of them had travelled from outside the island, either to work at the festival or to sample some of the 200+ real ales, ciders, perries and fruit wines.

The festival was opened by the Lieutenant Governor Sir Richard Gozney, who arrived at the Villa Marina in Douglas in style aboard the historic Okell’s double decker horse tram.

He brought with him a cask of newly-brewed Okell’s Triskellion ale.

After the opening ceremony he drew the first pint of ’Pullyman’s All Day Pale Ale’and presented it to Manx Independent columnist Pullyman himself - Michael Cowin.

The ale was specially brewed for the festival’s good cause, the Alzheimer’s Society, by the Hooded Ram Brewing Company, 20p from each pint sold being donated to the society.

A varied programme of music was staged on Friday and Saturday nights featuring Mae Challis, Gaz and Chon, Ian Thompson, Truman Falls, Loose Crew and the Chris Winchester Band.

The Betty Pie Company provided food throughout the festival, with the majority of ingredients being Manx sourced. On Saturday evening a couple from Worcester, Adam Morse and Charlotte Gorham, were engaged - another first for the festival.

This week’s Isle of Man Examiner includes a photograph special about the festival. The paper is in the shops now.