BEER and bears go on sale side-by-side at the three day Bent & Bongs Beer bash which opened on Thursday at the Formby Hall, Atherton.

The 14th festival organised by Atherton and Tyldesley Round Table and CAMRA will draw thousands of drinkers and raise funds for Childflight, Francis House Children's Hospice and other local charities.

"We hope this will be the best yet," said organisers' spokesman Paul Barber.

Live entertainment at each session, an unbelievable choice of "real" brews plus good food will help ensure this year's event is one to remember.

Childflight, which once every two years takes children with potentially life threatening illnesses to Disneyworld, Florida for the holiday of a lifetime must raise an average of £8,000 per month to cover the cost of transportation and medical back-up.

"A successful beer festival will make fund-raising much easier. Atherton & Tyldesley Round Table would like to thank all of our sponsors without whom, the festival would not be possible. Particularly our main sponsors, Hi-Tec Scaffolding and Paramount Window Systems Ltd," said Mr Barber.

Francis House Children's Hospice fund-raisers will sell bears and other gifts as part of their own "Bear Festival". And Ladies Circle draw prizes include beer or a DVD player courtesy of Leapfrog Computers.

Festival fayre includes an excellent selection of 'real ales' plus cider, perry, wines, bottled beers from around the world, draught Erdinger Weissbier, German draught beers served from the cask, Pilsner Urquell, the original Pilsner style beer from the Czech Republic and Cain's Red Eric.

More chilled draught beers than ever before and another helping of Leifman's Kriek on draught. Fruit added to Kriek causes further fermentation resulting in a strong, champagne-like flavour -- a favourite with the ladies.

Mimik provide tonight's (6pm-11pm, Thursday) entertainment, admission £3.50. Out of Order are on stage Friday (6pm-11pm, £4.50), Peg Leg on Saturday (noon - 4pm, £3) and It's Cold Outside (7pm-11pm, £3.50).