More than 7,000 people descended on a Victorian railway museum to enjoy 450 types of beer at a five-day annual festival.

Punters enjoyed about 36,720 pints of beer and 1,600 pints of cider and perry at CAMRA’s 28th annual Chappel Beer Festival, including some brewed in Coggeshall, Sudbury and Sible Hedingham.

Visitors were also treated to a ferret race, won by Eastwick and Tinkerbell the ferrets from Essex Ferret Welfare, live music and a wheelbarrow display from Red Barrows.

The festival was held at Chappel and Wakes Colne Station from Tuesday to Saturday and has so far raised £15,000 for the East Anglian Railway Museum.

The first beer to sell out at the event was Stod Fold Gold and shortly afterwards the Sonnet 43 Bourbon Milk Stout.

Organiser Brendan Sothcott said: “This year’s was one the best festivals we’ve done - the weather was ideal as it wasn’t too hot.

“I would really like to thank the team of about 100 unpaid volunteers from CAMRA and the railway museum who made it possible.

“Everybody enjoyed themselves and there were many new friends made over the five days.

“So far we have raised a minimum of £15,000 but we hope that will rise to around £30,000.

Mr Sothcott said plans were already underway for the winter beer festival which will be held at the same venue in February.

For a full picture spread, see this week's Halstead Gazette.