Thousands of pints of ale will be supped in a village where pubs were once banned when it hosts this year's Bradford beer festival.

And with interest in next month's event hotting up beer lovers are being urged to snap up their tickets before they dry up.

Organised by the Bradford branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), the three-day festival at Saltaire's Victoria Hall will give people a chance to sample some of the 100-plus ales on offer.

The festival - which moved out of the city centre in 1998 - is being staged for the third year running in Saltaire, whose founder Sir Titus Salt did not allow any pubs in his village.

Last year more than 2,000 people travelled to Saltaire for the festival and organiser Richard Holden said CAMRA members from throughout Britain had already snapped up more than 100 tickets by post.

He said: "There should be tickets for most of the sessions on the door. But it's a very popular beer festival and we normally sell out at least the Friday and Saturday nights so to be sure of getting in people are advised to get their tickets in advance.''

As well as traditional British ales the event will give people a chance to sample ciders, perries and foreign beers.

The festival starts on Thursday, February 24 between 6pm and 11pm with further sessions from noon to 4.30pm and 6pm to 11pm the following day and between 11.30am and 4.30pm and 6.30pm to 11pm on Saturday, February 26.

Tickets are priced £2.50 and £3 but are free for the Friday afternoon session.

They are available from the Shoulder of Mutton, Corn Dolly and Goldsborough in Bradford; The Victoria, Fanny's Ale and Cider House and Saltaire Tourist Information Centre in Saltaire and the Shipley Pride as well as The Cricketers at Keighley, Red Rooster at Brighouse and Tap and Spile in Halifax.

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