VISITORS to Worcester’s first-ever canal festival this weekend will be able to support the fundraising event while enjoying a refreshing pint.

The three-day Worcester Canal Festival at Lansdowne Park, which will raise money for a number of charities including St Richard’s Hospice, Maggs Day Centre, St Paul’s Hostel, the Royal Lifesaving Society and others, starts this Friday, June 12.

As part of the event, part of the celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Worcester to Birmingham Canal, the nearby Chestnut pub in Lansdowne Road will be selling a selection of lager, ale and cider at £3 a pint, with all proceeds going to the charities supported by the festival.

Ivan Smith, one of the brains behind the festival, said brewery company Enterprise Inns had donated a barrel of beer to the pub to sell in aid of the charities, but landlord Colin Robinson had decided to spread the offer across a range of drinks so drinkers could support the event no matter what their favourite tipple is.

The Worcester Canal Festival, first of what it is hoped will be an annual event, will include live music, stalls, a charity auction, a colourful flotilla of narrow boats as well as a licensed bar and food stalls.

Festival programmes are also now available from The Chestnut pub in Lansdowne Road, Virk’s Community Stores in Northfield Street and The Floating Cafe in Diglis Basin.

For more information on the event visit www.worcestercanalgroup.org.uk.