SAUSAGES and fine ale will be drawing crowds to an increasingly popular three-day festival.

The Manningtree Beer Festival is returning for the 13th year in a row for residents and visitors to enjoy a cold beverage as well as a BBQ serving hundreds of local artisan sausages.

Organisers said they have decided to name this year’s event the Bakers Dozen Ale and Sausage Festival.

A Manningtree Beer Festival spokesman said “We thought it would be a good idea to celebrate the 13th beer festival by doing something a bit different.

“We have on our doorstep excellent butchers and bakers who have agreed to supply us with the necessary food to make it a beer festival with a twist – hence the idea of an Ale and Sausage Festival.

“The barbecue will provide festival attenders with a range of sausages including commemorative beer sausages and the rolls will be supplied by a local baker.”

For the festival there will be a selection of 24 barrels of carefully chosen beers to taste from summer golden ales to darker ones.

As well as ales there will be 15 different ciders ranging from fruity, to medium and dry available, plus wines and prosecco.

There will also be local musicians bringing their guitars down to the quay to add to the atmosphere.

The spokesman added: “We are looking forward to holding the festival by the River Stour which is a unique setting for such an event. “The whole town seems to benefit as local businesses enjoy increased trade from festival goers.”

The festival is running Friday July 21 until Sunday, July 23, in marquee 10, Quay Street by permission of the Stour Sailing Club.

Opening times are, Friday 6pm until 9pm, Saturday noon until 9pm and Sunday noon until 4pm.

For more information contact Pete or Carol on 01206 391988.