BEER and cider will accompany live music and fundraising during four days of drinking festivities in Kidderminster.

The annual Swanfest Beer and Music Festival at the Swan, in Vicar Street, is now into its fifth year and according to its organisers is getting better and better.

This year’s festival, which takes place from tomorrow (Thursday, August 21) until Sunday, (August 24) features 12 real ales and six ciders from local and national breweries including Bewdley, Ludlow, Shepton Mallet and festival sponsors Purity.

Entry to the festival is free but organisers will be asking customers to make a small donation to this year’s chosen charity, Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Anthony Sheehy, manager, said: “We’ve chosen Birmingham Children’s Hospital this year as it’s very close to the hearts of all my family.

“Both myself and my brother were treated there when we were younger so we wanted to give something back to them.”

Open at its usual times tomorrow, Friday and Saturday, the pub will be hosting a fun day between noon and 11pm on Sunday.

This will include live music from Freddie, Rattlesnake Jake, A Certain Something and High Mileage, who will be supporting headliners Sons of Beaches, who will be performing as part of a reunion gig.

Alongside the music, the fun day will see the return of a man versus food challenge, which sees how many foot-long hot dogs contestants can eat in one hour. Last year’s champion managed seven.

Entry to the food challenge is £5 with a prize for the winner.

To finish off the entertainment on Sunday evening, some of the pub's regular customers will perform a Full Monty act.

Mr Sheehy said: “We’re really looking forward to this year’s event.

“More than 2,000 people came along last year so, fingers crossed, we can beat that this time round.”

Birmingham Children’s Hospital provides funding for equipment, research and important extras for sick children, their families and the staff who treat them.