ALMOST 2,500 people flocked to Troon for the Ayrshire Real Ale Festival.

Held at Troon Concert Hall from October 5 to October 7, the event was another huge success.

Those attending tasted more than 150 beers and 32 different ciders over the three days. The attendance was very slightly down on last year but those who attended drank more beer.

The Counties Bar in the Walker Hall was very popular with drinkers who like a quiet drink without music. The Champion Beer of Britain, Church End Brewery Goats Milk was in this bar.

It was the first beer to sell out on Thursday evening.

Several of the beers in this bar were previous Champion Beers of Britain and they all went down very well.

Both bands in the Concert Hall were very well received. Slider who played again on the Friday night were very popular. Delta Smoak played a large selection of American music on Saturday night and kept the audience dancing until closing time.

More than 80 new members signed up to join Camra (Campaign for Real Ale) at the festival and the total number of Camra members is now over 186,000.

The festival will return to the Troon Concert Hall in early October next year.