BEER swillers from Swindon are bracing themselves for the kick-off of a 19-day long festival at four town pubs.

Wetherspoon pubs The Savoy in Regent Street, The Groves Company Inn and the Sir Daniel Arms, in Fleet Street and The Dockle Farmhouse in Bridge End Road, are staging the festival from Thursday.

And during the event's run drinkers will be able to enjoy cask-conditioned beers from as far afield as Japan and the USA.

There will also be award-winning ales, fruit and wheat beers and those brewed exclusively for the festival on tap.

The festival will run from this week until April 14, with all beers priced between £1.49 and £1.79 a tipple.

Bill Bendall, social secretary for Swindon and North Wiltshire's Campaign For Real Ale (Camra), said: "We appreciate the promotion that Wetherspoon gives.

"Our charity helps to fight for the survival of real independent breweries so we hope it will also encourage people to drink more local ale."

Among the more unusual beers on offer will be Stone California Double IPA from the USA and Yo-Ho Tokyo Black from Japan.

Both beers are being brewed exclusively in England for the festival and have not previously been sold in UK pubs.

In addition, Namyslow Original Plum Beer, from Poland, Ecaussinnes Cookie Beer, from Belgium, and St Georgenbrau Keller Bier, from Germany, will be available during the festival.

Other beers on sale will include Caledonian Chocolate Drop, Batemans Spring Goddess, Wychwood Mad Hatter, Highgate Highland Whisky Ale, Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, Roosters Boneshaker IPA, Weltons Old Cocky and Mauldons Black Adder.

Matthew Parish, manager of The Savoy, said: "The beer festival will have an international flavour and will give people the opportunity to enjoy a superb selection of beers, which are not normally available in the area.

"It promises to be a lot of fun and I am looking forward to welcoming customers into The Savoy during the festival."

Customers will be able to sample any three of the real ales in special third-of-a-pint glasses for the price of a pint during the festival.

Tasting notes on all of the beers will also be available.

The Swindon and North Wiltshire branch of Camra will be announcing a winner for its pub of the year competition in the summer. Last year's winner, the Red Lion in Cricklade, was chosen for its atmosphere as well as its dedication to local beer.

The charity holds its yearly beer festival at the Steam railway museum in autumn this year.