Nothing stands between the team at CAMRA and a good pint of local ale - not even train strikes.

This weekend, punters can sample more than 70 real ales and 30 ciders at the organisation’s East Malling Beer and Cider Festival, despite rail strikes causing disruption to the event.

The festival is going ahead with additional free shuttle buses to help festival-goers get to and from the venue.

The one-day festival will be rerouting its buses to pick visitors up from Maidstone East train station, as well as Ditton Corner, Larkfield and Lunsford Lane End, along with its usual stops at Aylesford and West Malling train stations.

Jeff Tucker, who is in charge of this year’s festival transport, said: “We are pleased that we have managed to devise routes and pick-up points that we hope will enable as many festival goers as possible to join us for what promises to be a memorable event.”

The beer festival is organised by volunteer members of the Maidstone and Mid-Kent Branch (MMK) of CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale.

There will be a large selection of real ales and ciders available, most of which come from Kent-based breweries and producers.

There will also be food stalls and live music from cover bands Get Carter and The Itemize.

The beer festival takes place on Saturday, September 2 at NIAB EMR, East Malling’s world-famous horticultural research station.

Entry is free to card-carrying CAMRA members and costs £6 for non-members. Doors open from 11am and there’s no need to book.