LAST year's Knaresborough beer festival was so successful that the organisers ran out of beer two hours before closing time.

Members of the town's hard-working Lions group have made sure there will be no recurrence of this mouth-drying disaster next week by bringing in the celebrated Roosters Brewery.

The award-winning alehouse is supplying five barrels of a special festival ale, cunningly named Pride of Knaresborough, for next Friday's extravaganza at Knaresborough House.

The town's civic hall will be swapping agendas for ale as organisers line up 20 different brews from across the UK as part of the Knaresborough Festival.

Richard Hall, of Knaresborough Lions, said volunteers hope to raise more than £3,000 for local charities - and even to have a few pints left over for their troubles.

He said: "Last year people could not get enough of the festival beer. We are expecting the five barrels to disappear very quickly.

"There will be live music on both nights. We find that the beer brings in the people but the music keeps them here.

"Sadly, the nine volunteers don't usually get a chance to have a drink ourselves, we are that busy we haven't got the time."

The sessions take place on Friday from 7pm and on Saturday from noon.

Entry is free and beer costs £2 a pint.

But have the Lions taken account of the recent hot and muggy weather? Thirsty festival goers might yet again make this a sell out.

- HAVE you an annoying gap on your photo album? Is there a space reserved for pictures of your day out in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool, and your meeting with TV steeplejack Fred Dibnah at a traction engine rally?

Well, you've left your photographs at the Jolly Farmers in Leavening, near Malton, you forgetful old so-and-so.

Landlord John Parkinson has been waiting for someone to collect them for about a month. If they're your pictures, give him a bell on 01653 658276, or call in.

Updated: 08:28 Saturday, August 07, 2004