Real ale needs to shed its "old man" image to capture more female drinkers, says the Campaign for Real Ale.

About eight in ten women have never sampled the drink in a pub, according to a CAMRA survey.

An appetite for real ale among women does exist, with a quarter of CAMRA's 87,000 members now women and the group has a woman chairman for the first time.

But the group believes "a more female-focused marketing drive" would see the drink's popularity soar even more.

Research by TNS Worldpanel last month showed shop sales of the tipple had increased by nearly eight and a half per cent in a year.

Paula Waters, CAMRA chairman, said: "When is the last time you saw any press or TV advert for beer which is meant to attract women? At best they are inoffensively aimed at men and at worst they are downright patronising to women."

CAMRA spokesman Owen Morris said: "There needs to be more education about beer. We need to move past stereotypical advertising and describe the beers in a more approachable way to communicate flavours better."

Tony Gartland, head brewer at the independent Saltaire Brewery, said: "Tapping into the female market is about working on the appearance of ale. A lot of the continental beers have attracted female drinkers through smaller, dainty glasses and it's something the ale industry needs to look at.

"We did an apricot beer and publicans said it was selling 50-50 between men and women. We have even had two hen parties at the brewery's visitor centre."

Stewart Ankin, assistant brewer at Old Bear Brewery in Keighley, said: "It's noticeable in pubs that more women now drink ale. It has always been seen as a traditional ale for blokes but I think sweeter and lighter ales are catching their attention."

Ruth Bennett, sales director at Copper Dragon Brewery in Skipton, said: "I think real ale has become attractive to women because women are more careful about what they put in their bodies due to the stigma that we always have to look at our best - real ale is chemical-free."