GAZETTE & HERALD: MANAGERS of a Corsham pub held a beer festival to celebrate the birth of their first child. Mark Foster, 30, and his fiance Hayley Gill, 33, licensees of the Hare and Hounds pub in Pickwick, held the beer festival from Thursday until Sunday to celebrate the birth of son James.

Mr Foster said: "It was a huge success. There was lots of real ale and hundreds of people turned up.

"There were lots of new faces and hopefully lots of new regulars who are pleased with what we have done with the pub and with our choice of real ales."

Their son weighed 8lb 15oz at birth. Miss Gill spent 44 hours in labour and had to be transferred from Chippenham Hospital to the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

Mr Foster said: "It was a bit anxious and fraught for all involved but James is an angel. He can quite often be seen strapped to dad's chest while I'm working.

"As soon as he can collect glasses he will be one of our best valued employees."

The couple took over the pub 18 months ago.

They are now planning to hold another beer festival at the pub to welcome the New Year.