NEWENT Cricket Club will be able to showcase its facilities and provide a day of entertainment for the town with its annual beer festival and pig roast.

The club, which has 50 playing members as well as social members, has been enjoying a successful season.

It has had wins in the Forest Mid-Week League and the annual Dymock Knock-Out tournament.

It will use the proceeds from its fourth festival to support its youth programme and purchase equipment for the youth teams.

Chairman Eision Rees said the youth side was extremely important to a club which caters for the whole age range.

"We've got a good club here, with lots of youngsters involved. Our members range from under 11 to 72 and we try to encourage youngsters to play."

Organisers are stacking up the barrels ahead of the event, on Sunday, August 28.

A dozen beers and eight different ciders from local producers will be on tap and local band The Blast will provide music.

The festival kicks-off at 2pm, with a match against a touring Welsh side. The pig roast will be available from 7pm.

A free shuttle bus will run continuously from Newent Library to the ground, off Three Ashes Lane, from 6.45pm onwards.

A Dave Humphries memorial match rounds off the event, at 2pm on Bank Holiday Monday.

Club spokesman Richard Martin said: "This year's festival is going to be the best ever, we've ordered lots of beers and ciders and there'll be plenty going on."

Tickets for the festival are £2.50 in advance, from Daffodil Cake Shop in Newent, or £3 on the door.

For further details, call 01531 820612.