Beer lovers across the city are counting down the days to the 34th Norwich beer festival, which runs from Monday, October 24 to Saturday, October 29.

The event, which is run by the Norwich and Norfolk branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, will be held at its usual venue of St Andrews and Blackfriars Halls.

Festival organiser Martin Ward, who is running the event for the eighth consecutive year, said he was hoping interest would be especially high this year, following the successful first City of Ale event in Norwich. He said: 'Planning for this year's festival started in earnest immediately after the 2010 festival.After many months of dedicated research, ordering of the beers, ciders, perries and foreign beers is taking place now from the length and breadth of the country.

'So we hope to have a great choice to suit all tastes, including a large sample from the Norfolk breweries, as well as some very special brews. And the City of Ale event has created a buzz around the city which might bring in some more people. Organisers of that event will also have a presence at our festival.

'About 20,000 people attended last year's event and the same numbers are expected again.' Tickets are selling fast but some advance tickets for parties of six or more are still available for some evening sessions.

Advance tickets are also still obtainable for both Monday and Tuesday evenings, and Saturday night, when there is an optional Rocky Horror fancy dress theme.

Advance ticket holders are able to enter the festival without queuing, however the whole party must enter at the same time.

Admission on Wednesday, Thursday or Friday nights is still available on the door, subject to hall capacity limits.

Also for the first time, tutored beer and cider and perry tasting sessions will be running on Tuesday to Friday lunchtimes inclusive, starting at 12.30pm. The cost is �10 per person which covers the cost of all the tasters and entry to that festival session.

The Evening News' Love Your Local campaign supports pubs and breweries in the city.

To see campaign stories visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal.

For further information about the festival, including a booking form for advance tickets, visit www.norwichcamra.org.uk/festival/fest2011

Volunteers wanting to help should contact Mark Stimpson, staffing officer, at bfstaff@norwichcamra.org.uk or browse the Working at the Festival page of the website.