A charity that supports children and adults with special needs has been given more than �3,000 by a Norwich pub.

The Trafford pub on Grove Road, Norwich, raised a total of �3,405.40 for the Hamlet Centre last year, including �2,160 from its annual Valentine's Beer Festival, as its nominated charity.

A cheque was presented to Michael Rooney, chief executive of the charity, at this year's beer festival which runs until tonight and which is in aid of the Down's Syndrome Association.

The money was presented to representatives of the Hamlet Trust by Paul McNamee who suffers from Down's Syndrome and lives in a flat near to the pub just off Ipswich Road.

Mr McNamee is a regular at the pub and used to attend with his friend and flatmate Andrew Jones who died last February aged just 31 and who also had the genetic condition.

Chris Higgins, landlord of the pub, said the Down's Syndrome Association was chosen as this year's charity following the death of Mr Jones.

The festival, which this year has the theme The Meaning of Life, features between 70 and 80 beers and ales from across the country, which will all fit into the Monty Python-esque theme.

Visitors can look forward to a swing music night tonight and a quiz night tomorrow from 8pm.

The Evening News launched its Love Your Local campaign to encourage people to support their local pub and events like The Trafford's Valentine Beer Festival.

To find out more about the campaign or to see more stories log on to www.eveningnews24.co.uk and click on news then campaigns and then Love Your Local.