THOUSANDS of revellers toasted the success of a popular beer festival.

The long-standing Chappel Beer Festival, which is now in its 33rd year and jointly run with Camra, saw more than 9,000 visitors visit the festival at the East Anglian Railway Museum over five days.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “The festival culminated in a celebration of local traditions as well as a wide range of beers from Essex and others from the four corners of the country.

“The most Northerly beer came from the Orkneys, the most Westerly from the Isles of Scilly, the most Southerly from the Lizard in Cornwall and the most Easterly from Lowestoft.

“We hope you had a great time and enjoyed an old favourite drink or found a new favourite.

“We closed Saturday with more than 40 beers still on, and there was enough to keep us happy for the staff party.”

Festival favourites the Silbury’s played live on Saturday night and newcomers Loxley Corner and Back Porch also provided musical entertainment for the drinkers.

The Belchamp Morris dancers demonstrated their skill followed by Hells Bells, a steampunk ladies Morris dancing group.

A smaller, winter version of the Chappel Beer Festival will take place in the museum’s historic goods shed on February 28 to 29.