ORGANISERS of a beer festival which was plagued with torrential rain last year are praying for dry weather in time for this year's booze bash.

Neil Finn, manager of The Ashton Institute, Wellington Street, Ashton, has organised the Ashton Annual Oktoberfest for the past eight years.

The three-day event is just a part of a year-long fund-raising campaign for Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Poulton Street, and St Andrew's CofE School, Tulketh Road, Ashton.

Annually the festival, from October 28-31, usually attracts hundreds of people from across the North West, but last year was a different story.

Mr Finn, 44, said: "We've always had a lot of success with the festival but last year was disappointing.

"The rain was absolutely terrible and the auction we hold on the Saturday which often brings in a lot of money was a washout.

"I'm hopeful for this year though and I think we should be able to raise over £1,500."

And it was important to the institute's committee that the money was donated locally.

He said: "We used to swap and change which charities got the money but we decided it would be better putting it into the local community.

"We hold family bingo nights, cabaret nights and karaoke night and a lot of families use it.

"You can't get any better than local charity for local people."

Both schools already have their eyes set on what they will spend the cash on.

Barbara Cliff, nursery nurse and PTA chairman, at Sacred Heart, said: "We're absolutely delighted to receive money from the festival and we're thinking about using it for PE equipment.

"It will certainly be put to good use."

Mark Mackley, acting headteacher of St Andrew's, said they were going to update the computers.

"This will help with the children's development and skills and we're absolutely delighted with the institute's help."