REAL ale lovers will raise a glass in aid of autism awareness at a sports club’s new-look pavilion bar.

The Ruskin Beer Festival will take place in the Sticky Wicket Bar & Grub – the venue that has undergone a £250,000 refurbishment at the sportsground.

Organisers say there will be a wide selection of fine ales, as well as gins and prosecco, at the festival, to be held on the first weekend in August.

The event includes music too, with Roisin Dubh playing on the Friday and Bandit & Butler on the Saturday at the venue off Ruskin Drive, Dentons Green.

It will be the sixth summer festival and organisers are again joining forces with St Helens Autism Support to raise funds for the charity.

The events has amassed £8,000 for the charity over the past six years and organisers are confident of another successful festival this time round.

Steven Hockenhull, trustee of St Helens Autism Support and owner of barrel sponsor BocBoc, said: “We do lots of fundraising events throughout the year but the Ruskin Beer Festival gets the message out to a wide audience, raising awareness of autism.”

Diane Palfrey, event organiser, added: “Once again the support of the local business and real ale community has been invaluable and we’re so thankful that every year the local community has been so supportive of the event.”

The event is on Friday, August 4 from 5pm to 11pm and on Saturday 5 from noon to 11pm.