Glasses will be clinking at Ashton Institute and Social Club at its tenth annual beer festival to raise money for two local schools.

The Ashton Institute Beer Festival kicked off today and runs until Sunday with a choice of more than 30 ales from across the country at the Wellington Road venue.

Beer lovers can sup a concoction of brews including Old Nick, which at 7.2 per cent is the strongest beer ever to be sold at the festival. There's also a Halloween special, Dracula's Blood, and a Blackburn brew, Bobbin bitter. Revellers can also dance the night away on Friday night at a disco, listen to live local folk band, The Scuttlebags, on Saturday night, or take part in a variety of raffles and auctions.

Organiser, Neil Finn, said he hoped for big crowds especially because it is the festival's tenth birthday.

He said: "We've got a lot going on so there's plenty for people to do.

"But the main thing is that people enjoy a drink and have a good time."

The event has become a big date in the community's calendar with hundreds of people flocking to it every year. And community is the name of the game as proceeds from the event will be donated to Sacred Heart RC School, Poulton Street, Preston, and St Andrews CE Primary School, Tulketh Road, Preston.

Mr Finn said: "We have a popular event and we might as well make it so it puts back into the community."

For a slurp on some of the best real ales around, visit the Ashton Institute, also known as the Tute, from 12pm-11pm on Friday and Saturday and 12pm-10.30pm on Sunday.