The fifth annual Skipton Beer Festival, held in the town hall, has been hailed a huge success.

The three-day event attracted a record attendance of 2,158 customers who voted Black Band Porter, from the new Kirkstall Brewery in Leeds, as “Beer of the Festival”. The “Cider of the Festival” award went to Naylor’s of Cross Hills, whose excellent Emporium Press No2 was a result of its community apple-pressing day last October.

The festival was visited by Skipton MP Julian Smith and raised £519 for the mayor’s charities – the Alzheimer’s Society and Parkinson’s UK.