REAL ale drinkers are urged to visit their local watering holes after it was revealed more than a quarter of Worcestershire folk never visit pubs.

CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has announced the launch of its first ever National Pubs Week after market research showed 20 pubs closed nationally every month.

The week, which runs from tomorrow to Saturday, March 1 will encourage people to visit their local hostelries, after figures revealed that 26 per cent of people in the Midlands did not visit their boozers.

Peter Bottomley, treasurer of the Worcester branch of CAMRA, said a conducted tour of Worcester pubs had been arranged for Saturday, March 1.

"The idea is if anybody wants to walk round Worcester pubs we will be meeting at The Plough, 23 Fish Street, Worcester, at midday," said Mr Bottomley.

"We're going to about five pubs in the afternoon, and in each pub we will get people to buy the same beer.

"We will tell them what to look for in the beer and give them a guided taster session in ale."

He said the results for the Worcester branch pub of the year, which covers South Worcestershire, would be announced this Saturday to kick off National Pubs Week.

"The first thing we are looking for is that they have a good range of beers," said Mr Bottomley from Malvern.

"We are also looking at the pub's ambience and how friendly the staff are. "

Mr Bottomley, said he believed one of the reasons people did not visit pubs was because they preferred to drink cheap beer at home.

Andrew Shrigley, CAMRA's West Midlands regional director, said people could buy quality ales from pubs as well as having a good night socialising.

"A good quality pub ale is cask which is rich in vitamins and minerals," he said.

"It's better to go out and have quality, rather than quantity at home."