A special beer will help Wallingford celebrate the 850th anniversary of the granting of the town's charter next year.

The ale, being brewed by the Rebellion micro-brewery, based in Henley, will have an 850 logo and be sold throughout the year.

Oliver Round-Turner, manager of the George Hotel, said: "We thought a special beer was a fitting way to celebrate a great anniversary."

The town council has agreed funding of £10,000 for the celebrations, which will begin in February with the annual pancake race.

Events with the 850 theme will culminate in a weekend celebration in July.

As well as the beer, the celebrations include a classic car rally, medieval banquet, the re-enactment of Queen Matilda's escape from Oxford and her arrival at Wallingford Castle in a snowstorm, and a special wall hanging.

Many events will take place in the Castle Gardens and Castle Meadows as Wallingford Castle played such an important part in the town's history.

Other events during the year like the Bunkfest, the Blues and Beer festival, carnival, fun day and fireworks display, will all come under the charter celebration umbrella.

The main celebrations will be on the weekend of July 29, 30 and 31. The organisers, deputy mayor Lynda Atkins and Simon Harrop, presented their detailed plan to the town council.

They said that weekend will include a flower festival, fireworks, music, a living history display, re-enactment events, picnic and band concerts and a pig roast.

Mr Harrop said: "The aim is to include something for everyone so that during that weekend or through the year, people in Wallingford will find something to enjoy and to remember the reason for the celebrations."