Organisers have vowed a charity beer festival will return bigger and better than ever after a quiet one this year.

Braintree’s annual Real Ale Festival, organised by Lions Club of Braintree and the North West Essex branch of Camra, took place on Thursday through to Saturday at Bocking Arts Theatre.

Although organisers admit they expected a few more pints to have been sipped, a healthy amount will still have been raised for good causes in the area.

Andy Beatty, of the Lions Club of Braintree, said: “We haven’t got the figures yet but we were down about 200 people from last year.

“Last year we sold out by the Saturday night. Everyone who did attend told us they enjoyed themselves though.”