HUNDREDS of real ale fans toasted the start of this year’s Oxford beer festival.

They packed into the Town Hall yesterday to sample 140 real ales from across the country on offer at the Camra-run event, which continues today from 11am to 8pm.

There was a tie in the Local Beer of the Festival competition, with judges unable to separate West Berkshire’s Magg’s Magnificent Mild and Vale Brewery’s Gravitas.

Matt Bullock, vice-chairman of Camra’s Oxford branch, said the 13th festival started well. He added: “So far it’s been really good and we had about 700 people through the door before Friday evening. We have 40 new beers on for Saturday so it would be great to see as many people as possible heading down.”

Beers will be available from every Oxfordshire brewery, including newcomer Loose Cannon in Abingdon.