A POPULAR fundraising event for the local branch of the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust was a huge sell-out on Saturday (November 10).

The Melksham, Chippenham and Calne Branch, had sold out of sausages, cider and beer by early afternoon.

Dave Maloney, the branch chairman, said: “Almost a hundred people attended, drinking almost 400 pints and eating all of the 160 hot-dogs.

“We had sold our last sausage and drunk one of the cider casks dry by 2.30pm. It’s obviously disappointing for those who didn’t get a sausage but at least we’ve raised some funds.”

The fourth annual Winter Ales, Cider & Sausage Festival at Melksham Assembly Hall was held to support the restoration of the former 77-mile waterway.

It will run from the Kennet & Avon Canal near Semington to the Thames & Severn Canal near Cricklade and the River Thames near Abingdon.

The charity’s goal is to create a new leisure attraction for boaters, walkers and cyclists while boosting tourism and employment and supporting wildlife.

This year’s festival sponsor is The Bell Inn at Bowden Hill, Lacock, which stands alongside the former route of the canal.

Mr Maloney, 65, said: “We’re delighted The Bell has chosen to sponsor this year’s festival by funding all of the commemorative glasses.

“This dramatically reduces our costs and means even more money will go straight towards the restoration of the canal.”

The Bell Inn’s landlord is Paul Maloney, Dave’s son, who runs the pub with his wife Georgia.

He said: “We’ve always been happy to support the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust, especially because of the pub’s historical connection to the waterway.

“The Bell’s address is The Wharf due to it being a canal-side cottage in the past, and we get lots of visitors who enjoy walking along the stretch which has already been rebuilt near Reybridge.

“We look forward to the day when the Wilts & Berks is fully restored so that people from Melksham can use the towpath to safely walk or cycle to our pub – and it would be fantastic if narrowboats could moor alongside our beer garden!”

For more details, please visit www.wbct.org.uk