TOFFEE, ginger and cinnamon are among some of the flavours beer enthusiasts can sample while real ales from across the world are served up during a 17 day festival.

The overseas beers on offer at The Glass House in Market Street and The Running Horses in Water Street, have been sourced from brewers in New Zealand, the USA, Holland, Australia, Belgium and Italy.

They will complement up to 40 beers from across the UK also being served in the pubs during the festival.

The festival will run until Sunday, November 2 inclusive, with all beers priced from £1.95 to £2.05 a pint.

The overseas beers include Village Elder (Ian Ramsay, New Zealand), Night Owl Pumpkin Ale (Elysian Brewery, USA) and Freak of Nature (Wicked Weed Brewery, USA), while

UK beers include Crimson King (Butcombe) and Colonel's Whiskers (Batemans).

The pubs will serve new, seasonal and speciality beers, including those flavoured with ginger, heather and honey, toffee, herbs and spices and cinnamon and nutmeg.

Customers will be able to sample any three of the real ales in special third-of-a-pint glasses for the price of a pint.

The Glass House manager, Darren Westwood, said: "Seven of the beers on offer have been brewed by women brewers and I am delighted to showcase their excellent beers in the pub.

"The festival promises to be great fun and I am certain that my customers will enjoy themselves."