AN East Lancashire band are drinking to their own success - after becoming the first in the country to have a beer named after them.

Gone Beggin', whose four members are all based in Darwen, will play at this year's East Lancashire Beer Festival at Blackburn's King George's Hall.

More than 2,500 people are expected at the four-day bash which kicks off on Wednesday afternoon, organised by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Blackburn with Darwen Council.

And as fans lap up their music, real ale enthusiasts will be able to sample Gone Beggin' beer from behind the bar.

The idea was dreamed up by singer and guitarist Gary Ward, who approached former bandmate Richard Bazen, who gave up strumming the mandolin in favour of brewing real ale for Greater Manchester-based company Phoenix Brewery.

After taking exact specifications Richard got to work concocting the brew.

Gary, of Elswick Street, Darwen, said: "I have always been an admirer of Richard's beer. I rang him to see what the possibility was of him doing a beer for us and he said fine. I've asked for a beer with a similar taste to his current ones with a 3.7 to 4 per cent volume.

"It's a real honour. I don't know of any other band which has a beer named after them."

The beer only takes a day to make but the whole process - transferring the vats, leaving it to settle - takes time. As yet the beer is unsampled and will be unveiled at the festival on Wednesday where Gary, who shares the stage with singer Julie Pilkington, Terry Walsh, Jill Jones and Steven Lindley, expects it to be a hit.

The guitar tutor, who describes the band's music as Irish with a world influence, said: "We'll be having a pint or two at the festival on Wednesday. I only hope there's some left when we take to the stage on Friday."

Brewer Richard said it was the first beer he had heard of named after a band and if it proved popular the beer could be seen behind the bar in East Lancashire pubs.

He said: "If it is successful we would certainly repeat the order. Some pubs might want to put it on as a guest beer."

More than 2,500 people are expected to drink in the atmosphere at the annual East Lancashire Beer Festival.

This year's event and runs from Wednesday to Saturday.

Opening times are 6pm to 11pm each day with afternoon sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from noon to 4pm.

This year's event will feature more than 100 of the nation's favourite cask conditioned ales, ciders and perries.

For more information call the hotline on 01254 682000.