Organisers and beer lovers across the region have raised a glass in celebration of the CAMRA Winter Ale Festival’s biggest ever turnout.

More than 1,300 people turned out at the Colchester Arts Centre on Saturday’s final day to quaff merrily on more than 100 beers provided by East Anglian brewers, following the festival’s start on Wednesday, which marks the single biggest one-day entry for the branch.

The number at the ninth edition of the winter event has helped it become a mainstay of the Colchester and North Essex CAMRA calendar, with ale-enthusiasts from afar afield as Sheffield making the trip to enjoy some of the region’s finest beers, ciders and Belgian beverages.

Volunteer Tony Smith said: “It went terrifically well and it is really popular – you see people coming from all over the place.

“It is all run by volunteers so it was a great team effort from everyone there and from the arts centre.”

This year’s nominated charity is St Helena Hospice, with final amount still being counted.

Mr Smith added: “Branch chair Alan Wareham and festival organiser Martin Ibberson would like to thank all the brewers, volunteers and patrons who came along.”

The branch’s summer festival will take place in May.