TRAINS won't be the only things at the platforms at Minehead station over the weekend of September 15 and 16.

For the eighth successive year, the Somerset Branch of the Campaign For Real Ale is holding its annual beer festival at the station - and organisers have ordered the most beer in the festival's history.

There will be up to 100 real ales and several ciders on sale, many of them from the award-winning small breweries of Somerset, such as Berrow, Butcombe, Cotleigh, Cottage, Dunkery, Exmoor, Taunton and Yeovil.

There will also be a wide selection of ales from all around the UK and a new development this year will see a canvas covered drinking area installed on the platform.

The festival is open from 11am-11pm on the Saturday and from midday to 4pm on the Sunday. Saturday evening will feature music from the high-energy folk band Bag of Rats while Sunday lunchtime will feature the Tone Valley Jazz Band.

The West Somerset Railway is running extra trains on the Saturday with the first departure from Bishops Lydeard at 9.35am and the last departure from Minehead at 10.50pm.

West Somerset Railway General Manager Paul Conibeare said: "I enjoy a good beer when I am out for an evening but I am always amazed by the sheer variety and quality which is produced locally and nationally and found on sale at the Festival."

For details, call 01643-704996 or click on the link below.