Nearly 5,000 people have helped to raise £16,000 for good causes – simply by having a drink at an Aberdeenshire beer festival.
Organisers yesterday hailed the inaugural Stonehaven Midsummer Beer Happening a huge success.
Around 4,800 people enjoyed three-days of entertainment, sampling a range of 140 beers and real ales in a purpose-built marquee at Baird Park.
The festival also included a 72-mile cycling challenge through the Mearns.
Proceeds from the event – which replaces the annual Stonehaven Real Ale Festival – will be split equally between the Stonehaven dialysis unit campaign and the local sea cadets.
Festival organiser Robert Lindsay said: “We are absolutely staggered by the level of support for our first happening and we cannot thank enough the 4,800 people who came through our doors.
“The feedback we have had is that people loved the festival and had a fantastic time – which is what we set out to achieve.
“We also set out to help local charities, as the festival is a not-for-profit event, and to be able to give £8,000 each to the sea cadets and the dialysis unit campaign is well beyond what we had hoped.
“It was superb to see so many people have such a great time and do so much good for our community while they were enjoying themselves.”
Organisers moved the event to Baird Park and the summer due to the growing popularity of their original beer festival, which often left people queuing outside the town hall in the winter.
Local businessman Mr Lindsay added: “From the moment we opened our doors at 5pm on Thursday to the time we said goodbye to our last visitor after we closed at midnight on Saturday, there was just a great atmosphere in the marquee.
“The support we received was incredible.”