This year's main Dorchester Beerex benefactor has received a cheque for more than £9,000.

The organisers for the event, West Dorset Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and charlity partner Dorchester Casterbridge Rotary Club recently divided up profits from the February festival with the Dorchester Youth and Community Centre (DYCC) being this year's main benefactor receiving a cheque for £9,711.

Kate Parkham, the centre's youth work manager, said: "On behalf of everyone at Dorchester Youth and Community Centre, we are so grateful and amazed by the generosity of this donation.

"The money donated will enable DYCC provides open access youth club sessions in the evenings, detached - community outreach - youth work and works with young people who are not in education, training and employment.

"Beerex have raised a significant amount of money which will directly benefit local young people."

The presentation took place ne evening in the main hall of the youth centre where Beerex organisers could see the difference with the donation would make. Organisers were then given a tour of the building accompanied by youth workers and children.

A spokesman for Dorchester Beerex said: "All of this is possible through local company and brewery support with Palmers Brewery of Bridport being the principle festival sponsor. Other benefactors of this year's festival were the Robert White Centre at Dorset County Hospital which deals with cancer care, Dorchester Arts Centre who will use their money for community Parkinson disease classes and the mayor's personal charity."

The 2022 Dorchester Beerex chairman, Ellis Ford, said: "in the wildest dreams after the events worldwide over the last two years I would never have dreamt that Dorchester Beerex would happen. 

"I would just like to thank all the customers who attended over the two days, all the barrel sponsors, our main sponsor, Palmers Brewery, and finally the whole team who made the event possible.

"This has enabled us to make a large donation to the Dorchester Youth and Community Centre and further donations to other worthy causes."

He went on to acknowledge the generous additional sponsorship by Event security Southern Ltd.

Dorchester Beerex will return in 2023 on February 3 and 4.