Organisers of Norwich's first City of Ale Festival have revealed they have secured sponsorships for the event.

Norwich-based Signs Express and The Click design consultants will help promote and publicise the festival, which runs from May 26 until June 5.

Dawn Leeder, co-chairman of the steering group which is organising the event said: 'Together they are going to ensure the City of Ale identity is prominent throughout the city and beyond.

'We're very grateful to them and hope it's going to be an ongoing relationship.'

Ms Leeder said she hoped Signs Express, based in St Matthew's Road, off Riverside Road, would be able to take care of special banners and stickers for delivery lorries carrying the City of Ale logo.

Claire Doherty, a marketing and PR executive for the company, said: 'We're pleased to be part of it [the festival].

'Being a locally-based company we're pleased to do as much as we can in Norwich.'

The festival will be launched by Good Beer Guide editor Roger Protz at St Gregory's Church, St Gregory's Alley, off Pottergate, Norwich, on Thursday, May 26.

The event, which has the support of more than 50 pubs and breweries, will have a closing ceremony and awards event at Dragon Hall, King Street, on June 5 between 1pm and 5pm.

It is hoped the festival will feature an exhibition of old brewing footage at Cinema City and Fusion at the Forum if organisers can compile enough old film.

There will also be an exhibition of Norwich's brewing heritage at the Mustard Shop in the Royal Arcade throughout the event. Ms Leeder appealed to anyone who has old footage, photos, or memorabilia to get in touch.

The festival, which has also revealed a third sponsor, Norwich-based web development company What Online, is being backed by the Norwich branch of the Campaign for Real Ale and the Norwich Heritage Economic and Regeneration Trust.

Anyone with items of pub memorabilia they can loan Norwich HEART for the Mustard Shop exhibition should call 01603 305575 or visit www.heritagecity.org. Anyone with footage or pictures for the exhibition at the Forum should email dawn@pintpicker.co.uk

The next City of Ale meeting will take place on Thursday, March 24 at 10am.

Do you have a pub story for us? Call David Bale on 01603 772429 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.