More than 20 pubs in the Norwich area are taking part in a national event aimed at encouraging more consumers to try real ale.

National Cask Ale Week kicked off on Saturday and runs until Sunday, October 9 and this year's theme is 'Try Before You Buy'. It comes as a new report has revealed that sales of real ales are offering a lifeline to struggling pubs across the country.

A new audience of younger, affluent and sociable drinkers have taken up real ales, according to the Cask Report 2011-12.

The report found that cask drinkers were twice as likely to visit the pub as non-cask drinkers, spent more when they were there and, most importantly, cannot switch to the supermarket to buy their favourite drink.

The annual report again showed cask to be outperforming the overall beer market, and as it can only be enjoyed in pubs, it is helping pubs to attract customers.

The Evening News' Love Your Local campaign supports pubs in the city and has highlighted how Norwich has become a mecca for real ale, as seen by the success of this year's first City of Ale event.

Among the pubs taking part in the cask ale week in Norwich is the Jubilee in St Leonards Road, Thorpe Hamlet, whose landlord Tim Wood said: 'We will be encouraging people to try a few real ales. I have been here 20 years and real ales have steadily grown in the last four years. It's one of the few products that pubs can do and supermarkets cannot compete with.'

The two pubs owned by Dave Turnbull, the Blue Boar in Wroxham Road, Sprowston and the Lord Rosebery in Rosebery Road, north Norwich, are also taking part. Mr Turnbull said: 'We have certainly seen a growth in the amount of real ale drunk and I think the national rise has been about 15pc. To reflect that we will be having five instead of four cask ales on pump at the Blue Boar and four instead of three at the Rosebery. During the week we will be encouraging customers to try a few of our real ales. Brewers are also starting to brew brighter beers which appeal more to women and younger drinkers.'

To see more stories from the The Evening News Love Your local campaign visit www.eveningnews.24.co.uk/ loveyourlocal.

For more information on National Cask Ale Week, visit www.caskaleweek.co.uk.

What is your local doing for National Cask Ale Week? Call David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.