PUNTERS drank the bar dry at a popular lager festival in Basingstoke.

More than 200 people came along to the Hatch Warren Lager Festival at Hatch Warren Community Centre, in Long-cross Lane.

They were able to buy 15 different lagers, including those from local breweries, such as a pilsner from the Andwell Brewing Company.

Other brews came from further afield, such as the sweet-smelling Keo from Cyprus, and the Kona Bigwave, from Hawaii.

A band called Brobed Stils also played covers of modern songs while the customers tried the tipples.

Around £1,000 was made on the night which will go towards the running of the centre and the services it provides.

Stuart Colman, chairman of Hatch Warren Community Association, said: “It went really well and we had 220 people come through the door, which was really good.

“This is the first year that we have tried to make the range of beers a bit unconventional, and it went down really well.”

Mr Colman added that the association will look to hold the event next year, and are thinking about introducing a cider festival.

The lager festival did not take place last year due to a change in the make-up of the committee.