A BEER and cider festival that has been funding vital community projects in Minety returns this weekend.

There will be a vast selection of cider and real ales as well as BBQs, live music and more during the Minety Beer & Cider Festival.

This year there will be a well-equipped play area for youngsters in attendance and organisers insist it will be the best year to date.

Now in its fifth year, the festival has raised money for a variety of community causes in its time and will be supporting the Minety Playing Fields Association in 2016.

Over the last few years, profits from the event has enabled the association to make improvements to a number of community facilities.

These have included the club-house which is home to the local football team, skittles teams, tennis players and Minety Rugby Club.

A spokesperson for the festival said: “We’re trying to be responsive in what’s on offer at the festival and to endeavour to provide something for all the family year on year.

“That’s true to our aim, that is, to improve and extend the facilities available to the whole community.

“We live in a rural area here and feel that providing local sports, social and recreation opportunities is vital - especially for the young and the older generation - people that often don't find it so easy to travel further afield.

“So for next year we hope we’ll be throwing the biggest Minety Beer and Cider festival to date – it’s not clear exactly what it will look like but we’ll be aiming to build on the successes of this year’s event.”

The festival starts at 6pm on Friday, and runs from 11am on Saturday and noon on Sunday.