The 17th Cove and Kilcreggan Real Ale Festival was ‘Animal Crackers’and the sun (mostly) shone on the event as more than 400 people descended on Cove Burgh Hall.

There were 20 different ales, many of them with an animal theme, available to sample on the day and six ciders accompanied by an excellent choice of food to help soak it up.

As well as real ale fans from the local area, the festival also attracted big crowds from Helensburgh and beyond – including a healthy contingent who crossed the Clyde on the Gourock-Kilcreggan ferry.

Beers on tap in the course of the day-long event included 'Yellowhammer', 'Blind Tiger', 'Norfolk Terrier', 'Falcon' and 'Struggling Monkey', along with 'Pale Zesty Bear and 'Screech Owl', all competing to tickle the palate of grown-up festival-goers.

A family friendly area was again provided by Craigrownie Park’s fund-raisers with a fantastic selection of cakes, tea, coffee and soft drinks, plus live music by the Midgierakers and Robert Ryan.

Kitchen staff were also kept busy, serving up a delicious range of home-made curries and goulash rustled up by some of the Peninsula's many talented cooks, as well as filled rolls, while a popular addition to this year’s event were some very handy beer glass holders provided by Ensign Motifs.

The organisers of the festival thanked volunteers for their efforts and sponsors for their support, and said they were already looking forward to next year’s event.