Bradford's annual beer festival looks set to be a lock-out after moving out of the city to Saltaire, the village where pubs were once banned.

Organisers are busy rolling out the barrels at the Victoria Hall in preparation for the Great Bradford Beer Exhibition which gets under way on Thursday and are predicting it will be a huge success.

Mick Farrar, chairman of the Bradford branch of the Campaign for Real Ale which is organising the three-day event, said tickets for all four paid-for sessions had virtually sold out.

He said: "We've sold well over 500 of the 600 tickets for each session.

"We were a bit worried to start with about moving out of the city centre for the first time but the ticket sales have gone really well.

"It looks like it will be a big success and if it is we'd hope to come again next year if they'll have us back.

"We've sent tourist information leaflets out with the tickets and a lot of people have visited already to look at Saltaire before the festival so it's having spin-off benefits for the village as a whole as well.''

Real ale lovers have been snapping up tickets at pubs throughout West Yorkshire but more than 500 have also been sold by post to people from as far away as London and Scotland. Entry to the Friday afternoon session is free with people admitted on a first come, first served basis.

More than 100 ales as well as ciders, perries and beers from abroad will be on offer. A commemorative festival glass has also been produced and is included along with a programme.

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