Beer lovers will be raising a glass to the return of a popular festival.

Weymouth's Oktoberfest returns to the Pavilion's Ocean Rooms on Friday, October 6 and Saturday, 7 for the seventh year.

The event is organised by the West Dorset branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

This year the beer theme will be 'Beers from the West Country & Dorset', and is set to be a celebration of some of the best breweries from Bristol to Penzance with around 70 beers available to try and a selection of 12 ciders and Perries.

This year beer will be served in measures of thirds up to a pint.

CAMRA bar manager Rich Gabe said: "The idea of 3rd measures and multiples is to give customers the chance to sample a greater variety of beer styles and flavours from breweries they may not have heard of, while also keeping cost down.”

Local brewery and previous beer of the festival winner at Weymouth and Dorchester; the Cerne Abbas brewery will be making a welcome return with their festival bar.

Brewer and part owner Vic Irvine said: “Myself and Jodie are really excited to be returning back for a second year, we will have old favourites and some interesting new beers to try.”

Tickets are on sale in Weymouth at the Boot and the Globe pubs, Chalbury Food and Wine and the Weymouth Pavilion box office. In Dorchester, they are available from the Blue Raddle pub and in Wyke Regis from the Smugglers.

You can also buy tickets online at www.camrawdorset.org.uk or www. weymouthpavilion.com 

Sessions are Friday lunch, 11am to 3.30pm, Friday evening from 6pm to 11.30pm, Saturday lunch from 11am to 3.30pm and Saturday evening from 6pm to 11.30pm.

Tickets cost £5.50 for all sessions, apart from Friday lunch, when tickets cost £4.50.

All sessions include a souvenir glass.