The largest was at Peterborough Rugby Club where hundreds of people packed into the clubhouse to sample the 50 different ales, ciders and bottled beers on offer.

The festival is now in its third year, and has become a popular addition to the Mayday bank holiday weekend.

Other entertainment included live music from Citizen Smith and Retrolux and a huge barbecue teased many a tastebud. The rugby club was actually the original home of the Peterborough Beer Festival, which now attracts thousands of people to Peterborough's Embankment at the end of every August.

Festival committee member, Justin Beaumont, explained that the rugby club's festival has made itself a new home in the May calendar.

He said: "We didn't launch it to rival the bigger festival at the Embankment, we just thought there would be room for another event.

"We've switched it around, so we have it at the end of the rugby season rather than at the beginning, like the Peterborough Beer Festival."

Elsewhere in the city, Charters bar was overflowing with revellers enjoying the spring weather and a number of ales provided by the Oakham Ales brewery.

Music on Friday night was provided by the Psych 'O' Bombs, and the evening sunshine meant many customers were able to sit outside in the pub's spacious beer garden.

And the Coalheavers Arms, in Park Street, came to the end of its five-day beer festival.

Landlord of the pub, Tom Beran and his team of happy volunteers, were kept busy pouring the 40-plus stouts, bitters and milds to thirsty customers.

Highlights included a Caribbean barbecue cooked by Diane Daley and a tug-of-war competition.