CROWDS of ale fans are expected to flock to a hugely popular three day beer festival in the region which starts today. .The Museum of East Anglian Life is holding its annual beer festival at its 13th century barn and 70 acre grounds in Stowmarket until Sunday.

CROWDS of real ale fans are expected to flock to a hugely popular three-day beer festival in the region which starts today.

The Museum of East Anglian Life is holding its annual beer festival at its 13th century barn and 70 acre grounds in Stowmarket until Sunday.

There will be 58 beers from East Anglia on tap, as well as five different types of cider, and there's music, food and bar games.

Harry Barnett, operations manager at the museum in Stowmarket town centre, said: "Every year we get bigger and we have more beers this time. It should be a wonderful event again.''

Funds from the beer festival go towards restoring the ancient agricultural Emperor Steam Engine exhibit at a cost of £20,000. The museum has so far raised half the money for the work.

The beer festival is running from 6pm to 11pm today, from 11am to 11pm tomorrow, and 12pm to 4pm on Sunday.

For more details call 01449 612229.