MORE than 1,000 revellers enjoyed a tipple or two in Christ Church during the seventh Old Town Beer Festival.

Arkell’s head brewer Alex Arkell officially opened the event on Saturday after a packed-out preview evening on Friday with 75 beers and cider on offer - ales Yabba Dabba Doo and Marcus Aurelius proved popular and quickly sold out.

Tony Read, 67, of North Swindon, has been to every festival with two friends since the first one seven years ago and brought along two newcomers to this one. He said: “I first heard of it from a friend in CAMRA and it’s a thoroughly good day out, we love it. We enjoy the nice atmosphere, there’s a good selection of ales, it’s quite a novel setting, and the money goes to good causes, which is great.

Money raised during the event will help to replace the Cricklade Street church’s leaking roof. Other good causes like the Old Town Duck Race and the Swindon Food Collective set up stands to rally support.

Chris Smith, manager of the Christ Church Community Centre and beer festival organiser, said: “It was really busy, we had even more people than expected. Its had a real community feel, it’s not often that people get to have a beer in a church and it’s good that the church can be used for events like this.”