ALE lovers descending on Oxford’s Town Hall last night as the city’s annual beer festival kicked off.

The 16th annual Oxford Beer Festival started yesterday and will run until tomorrow.

The event, organised by Oxford CAMRA, features a selection of 140 real ales as well as more than 50 ciders and perrys.

Beer lover Andy Francis, 55, from Risinghurst, said: “The selection here is as good as anything we have had before.

“I have been coming for a number of years. There is a good atmosphere and we are having a splendid time.”

The festival will run today from 11am until 11pm and tomorrow from 11am until 8pm.

Admission costs £2.