DEVIZES beer festival was a monster success on Saturday with an ale from Loch Ness winning the title for best brew.

Organiser Don Jones said: "It was a brilliant day and our most successful festival ever. We sold out all 1,900 tickets with more than a week to go. That is 100 more than last year."

Another winner from the day will be Devizes Opportunity Centre which is likely to receive more than £500 from Devizes CAMRA.

The value of all unused tokens will be added up and given to the nursery in Bellevue Road, Devizes, which helps under fives with learning difficulties.

Mr Jones said: "We have pledged to help the opportunity centre for three years and this is the second year it's been our chosen charity.

"In addition to the tokens we also used half the money we got from re-selling tickets that were returned to us to add to the total. Everyone seemed happy to get only half their money back and see the rest go to charity.

"Everything went really well on the day with perfect weather – warm but not too hot."

There were also face painters on hand who again gave donations for their artistic work to the opportunity centre.

Festival goers could sample up to 66 beers and more than 20 different ciders.

Mr Jones said: "Cider becomes more and more popular every year."

Music was provided throughout the day by a variety of bands with Devizes Town Band getting the event off to a good start at noon and Troy doing the final set from 8.30pm to 10pm.

Mr Jones said that there had been no trouble at the event but security would be reviewed next year because of the number of people consuming their own drink.

He said: "We haven't had any trouble but it would be wrong of us not to act and for then one year something to happen."

Insult was added to injury as much of the rubbish left on the site was empty beer cans left by people who had not bought tickets.

Mr Jones said: "We were out there til gone midnight clearing up."