A beer festival in Ramsbottom raised a glass to toast the work of lifesavers and smashed its fundraising record.

Hundreds of visitors came to sample a taste of the Ramsbottom Mountain Rescue Beer Festival on September 27, 28 and 29 to raise money for Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team.

Held at Ramsbottom Civic Hall, some of the attractions included the opportunity to sample 45 different varieties of real ale, and also live music from Walkabout & Friends and Tracy Brown.

The event was organised by Ramsbottom-based Irwell Works Brewery, and included a number of their own products as well as ales from Bury based brewers Deeply Vale.

Sara D’Arcy, one of the organisers, said this year’s event has smashed last year’s total of £1,200.

She said: “We have not got a definite total yet, but we think we have raised at least a couple of thousand pounds, which would be the most we have ever raised.”

The rescue team is a charity made up of volunteers, covering an area of around 350 square miles, across East Lancashire, Pendle, Rossendale Valley, Bury, and other parts of Greater Manchester. Since January, 2000, the team has helped more than 500 people, including injured walkers, fell runners and climbers, as well as assisting police in missing person searches or helping ambulances in severe weather conditions.

Sara added: “People generally had a great time.

“The atmosphere was good, the music and the beer was good — it was the perfect combination.”