Preparations for a major new festival of real ale in the city are gathering momentum with nearly 40 pubs and breweries already on board – and organisers have now unveiled their new logo to promote the event.

The City of Ale festival will run from May 26 until June 5 and aims to make Norwich a world-renowned city of real ale.

The festival's new logo, which will be used on merchandise like programmes and T-shirts, was prepared by the Norwich-based Click Design. It was unveiled at the Murderers pub in Timberhill yesterday.

The meeting was also given an update on the number of pubs and breweries taking part in the event.

Each participant will be listed in the festival programme, which will have a print run of 20,000 copies, and be featured online at norwichcityofale.org.uk and listed on posters, flyers and publicity materials.

Participants must take out a quarter page ad in the programme, while pubs will also have to pay for and display for the duration of the event a 10ft by 3ft Norwich City of Ale banner (total costs for pubs �160 and �80 for brewers).

Pubs and brewers will also have to host at least one special event during the festival period, which could be a quiz night or a free tastings event. Dawn Leeder, co-chairman of the Norwich City of Ale steering group, said: 'I think the logo is fabulous and encapsulates beautifully what we are doing.

'We are also very encouraged by the number of pubs and breweries that are taking part. It's gathering momentum and we are confident we will be able to host a very successful celebration of real ale in Norwich.'

Ms Leeder said they were still looking for a sponsor for the event, which it is hoped will complement rather than compete with Norwich's traditional beer festival, held every October.

To take part pubs have to sell real ale and organisers want to hear from breweries from within 30 miles of Norwich.

The idea for the festival fits in with the Evening News's Love Your Local campaign. The campaign was launched to highlight the role pubs play in the community and warned punters to either use them or lose them.

To find out more about the campaign visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal.

If you are a landlord or brewer interested in finding out more about plans for the festival call Dawn Leeder on 07949 588207, email dawn@pintpicker.co.uk, or call Phil Cutter on 01603 621447. The next City of Ale meeting will be at the Murderers on Thursday, January 27 at 10am.