CHAMPION beers, live music and some fabulous prizes are top attractions at the Mansion House Beer Festival which is expected to attract 2,000 visitors to the two day event being staged tomorrow and Saturday.

For one visitor it will be an extra special weekend with barrel sponsor Jayne Cook celebrating her 30th birthday during the festival with 80 guests enjoying champagne and real ale at a marquee party.

Thirty five guest ales will be on offer between 6pm and midnight on Friday and 11am until midnight on Saturday at the event being sponsored by Canter Levin and Berg solicitors and being held in support of the charity Age UK Mid Mersey which is based at the Mansion House in Victoria Park.

St Helens beers will be very much to the forefront with Rainford’s George Wright Brewery having four brews on offer namely Cheeky Pheasant, Mansion House Bitter, Pipe Dream and Hawkshead Cumbria Lakeland Gold. From further afield are Erdinger Weissbier from Germany, Budvar from the Czech Republic, Strawberry and Lime Cider from Rekorderlig in Sweden and Peroni Nastro Azzurro from Italy.

“There are some great drinks, excellent barbecue food and some fantastic prizes on offer in a wonderful setting,” said Age UK Mid Mersey fundraising director Teresa Bowen-Brown.

“All the proceeds go to supporting the fantastic work by Age UK Mid Mersey.

“They provide the elderly with essential support ranging from calls by volunteers to the homes of housebound individuals, to activities which enhance the health, fitness and wellbeing of older people.”

Britain’s Got Talent TV show contestant Ricky Ashcroft will provide live entertainment on Friday night from 7pm. On Saturday Greenalls Brass Band will arrive around 5pm with Usual Suspects on stage from 7pm.

A £1 a ticket prize draw will be held and lucky winners will be taking home £1,500 of holiday vouchers, with £500 of shopping vouchers for the runner-up and a £250 hamper for the third prize.

The winning numbers will be drawn at 9.30pm on Saturday by the Mayor Cllr Andy Bowden.

Admission to the festival costs £5.