A POPULAR beer festival that faced the axe because of a shortage of volunteers has been saved.The future of the Bury St Edmunds beer festival was put at risk by a shortage of volunteers to staff the event.

A POPULAR beer festival that faced the axe because of a shortage of volunteers has been saved.

The future of the Bury St Edmunds beer festival was put at risk by a shortage of volunteers to staff the event.

The problem also put the future of the West Suffolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) into doubt.

The branch launched an appeal for help and was met with an enthusiastic response, ensuring the survival of the group and the festival, which has consistently proved popular with ale-lovers.

Branch chairman Chris Curtis said: “The festival will definitely go ahead next year. We've had some good support from some other members and it is in safe hands.

“I always organised it for pleasure but it is hard work. I will still be involved in the publicity and I am now very hopeful for the future of Camra.”

Guy Ransom, who has volunteered to run the festival, said he hoped the festival would be as much fun for organisers as it is visitors.

“We hope people will come here and enjoy themselves but also learn a bit more about ale.

“I remember I first became interested in ale in 1984 and it was the best pint I've ever had and although nothing has come close since there are plenty of other challengers out there.”

The East Anglian Beer Festival is held each year at the end of April in the Corn Exchange at Bury St Edmunds.

The festival is run in an effort to publicise the variety of top quality cask ales available across the region, and is usually attended by several thousand beer drinkers over the four days of the event.

Ale has a long association with Bury - not least through the Greene King brewery - and brewers from the town are mentioned in the Domesday Book.

will.clarke@eadt.co.uk