WHETHER you enjoy a pint of cider or ale the best of both tipples will be in great supply at the Fleece Inn in Bretforton this weekend.

The popular National Trust pub in the Vale village, near Evesham, will be holding its annual Apple and Ale Festival this weekend and there will be lots on offer.

The Fleece orchard will house a real ale and scrumpy cider tent with more than 40 ales and ciders to try.

And this year the free festival will be following a champions theme, featuring winners of the CAMRA Champion Beer of Britain, World Beer Awards, SIBA Awards and more.

Landlord of the Fleece Inn, Nigel Smith, said he was really looking forward to it.

"It's going to be great," he said. "This year we have taken a new theme for our ales, we have gone out and collected 20 champion brewers from around the country. And we have a number of local champions to boot including from the North Cotswold Brewers at Shipston.

"So we have a good combination of local heroes and national champions.

"For our cider collection we have gone quite afield with offers from all over the UK."

But there will also be lots to enjoy for the rest of the family including Morris dancing, mumming, cider making demonstrations, the Worcestershire Barn Owls, skittles, apples displays and tastings, and live music from Colin Pitts and Dicey Reilly on Saturday night and K2Acoustic on Sunday night.

"On the food side of it we will be looking to produce some nice hot dishes along side some cheeses from local producers.

"For the families we have the Worcestershire Barn Owls and that's something we are very keen to keep supporting. We have cider pressing using the traditional press and a smaller press which means the younger children can have a go themselves and taste some fresh apple juice."