ROCK 'N ROLL will be alive and well at a popular beer festival, after organisers and council officials cleared up an entertainment licence dispute.

Worcester City Council had considered increasing the charge from £100 to possibly £1,550 for the city's sixth beer and cider festival organised by the Campaign for Real Ale.

Organisers feared such a large sum would have called time on the three- day event's live music, which in previous years has provided a mix of folk, blues and rock 'n roll.

But at a meeting of the city council's licensing committee this week, it was decided the amount would just be £200, after deciding it should be classed as a charitable event.

"We decided that CAMRA was a not-for-profit organisation and was raising money for charities, so we were able to considerably reduce the fee," said Bill Saville, principal environmental health officer at the council.

"Also, the event is in its sixth year and has never caused us any problems, so we didn't have to spend any time and money evaluating its running costs."

The potential licence hike follows changes introduced earlier this year, which see a charge of £550 for events attracting more than 499 people plus a 50p surcharge for each extra person.

Bill Ottaway, a member of CAMRA's voluntary organising committee, said he was pleased with the outcome.

"We've got Worcester Brass Band performing, along with a range of other live bands and the event really wouldn't have been the same without the music," he said.

This year's event - scheduled for Thursday, 12 to Saturday 14 August - has a Celtic theme and is expected to attract around 8,000 people.

More than 300 beers, ciders and varieties of perry will be available, including those from local brewers, and a good selection of ales from Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Cornwall.

Last year, the three-day festival attracted 5,300 people, with local charities collecting around £2,500 from donations and profits. This year's event will raise funds for the Air Ambulance and research into diabetes.