This year's Dorchester Beerex has got off to a roaring start with revellers flocking to the event for its official opening.

The ever popular festival, sponsored by Palmers brewery, takes place in Dorchester Corn Exchange today and tomorrow. 

There is a range of 80 beers and ciders available, with some beers brewed especially for the event which is organised by the West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Casterbridge Rotary Club.

Fortuneswell Cancer Trust is this year's main charity. 

Paul Ryan, chairman of the trust, said: "This is our 20th anniversary so it's an important year.

"We work locally, we're not a national charity and the guys here are local too. It's people like the guys at Beerex who always maintain that level of support for the community."

There's a new improved bar layout in the Corn Exchange and the use of the town hall upstairs providing an extra 100 seats and plenty of tables over all four sessions.

Opening hours are being extended from 11am to 4pm. The evening hours have changed slightly with a new start time of 6.30pm and a closing time of 11.30pm.

Tickets cost £10 to include a glass, colour programme and two halves.

Tickets have sold out for the Saturday evening session, but some tickets are left for tonight's session and the Saturday lunchtime session. 

Dave Harris, Beerex chairman, said: "We want to support local good causes that make a difference. 

"Half of our committee know someone or have a relative who has been supported by the Fortuneswell Cancer Trust. We're looking forward to raising a lot of money this weekend, and what a great way to do it."

Festival highlighted beers include Lydbrook Valley IPA, only usually found at the forge pub Gloucestershire, Newark Winter Gold from Nottinghamshire and from Scotland WooHa, Blonde. 

More local beers of interest include the 2018 beer of the festival Eight Arch, Corbel from Wimborne, Cerne Abbas, Ginger Fox, Saxon Gold and Shield Wall from the new Dorchester brewery Copper St.