REAL ale fans have joined forces with a rugby club to stage their first joint beer festival.

The event is being held at Durham Rugby Club, which has won Durham CAMRA’s real ale club of the year for 2013.

The event got underway today, Thursday March 7, at the clubhouse in Hollow Drift, Green Lane, and will run until Sunday (March 10).

On sale are 48 real ales and eight ciders from around the British Isles.

The festival is open today (Thursday), tomorrow, and Saturday from 11am to 11pm and from 11am to 6pm on Sunday.

Admission is £2 and beer costs £2.50 per pint.

A club spokesman said: “The stewards Derek and Julie Best are thrilled to receive the Club of the Year award, recognising their commitment to real ale, and are looking forward to working with Camra for the festival and future events. “There is always a regular good supply of Timothy Taylors Landlord and Black Sheep Best Bitter.”

The club fought off five times Club of the Year winner Chester-le-Street Cricket Club, which is this year’s runner-up.