IT is "all hands to the pumps" at Skipton Town Hall during Bank Holiday weekend.

The Keighley and Craven branch of CAMRA (the Cam-paign for Real Ale) is organising the town's first beer festival for more than 25 years.

Local people and visitors will be able to sample more than 50 different cask-conditioned ales from breweries near and far.

A selection of British and foreign bottled beers will also be available along with traditional ciders and perries.

The festival will be open between noon and 10pm next Friday and Saturday, May 25 and 26, and between noon and 6pm on Sunday May 27.

Town councillor Carole Manley will open the festival at 2pm next Friday and proceeds will go to The Prostate Cancer Charity.

Town Crier Kevin Griffiths is expected to be attendance at each session.

There will also be live music on the Friday and Saturday evenings in the shape of "Undercover" and "The Hot Pot Belly Band" respectively, while the Saturday afternoon slot will be filled by local Irish band "Instruments of Torture".

Hot and cold food and snacks will be available and there will be a free minibus service be-tween Skipton rail station and the town hall during festival opening hours.