Pubs are being urged to back Leicestershire's small breweries by pledging to have at least one local ale on tap.

The move is part of a campaign called LocAle, being organised by the Leicester branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

More than 80 beers from 33 breweries which are within a 25-mile radius of the city centre are featured in the campaign. They include eight in Leicestershire and two in Rutland.

The drive comes as the Leicester Mercury's Support Your County campaign continues to back independent traders and locally-made goods.

So far, 11 pubs across the county have signed up to LocAle, the first was The Chandlers, in Fenny Lane, Shearsby, which already sells locally-produced ales.

Landlord Steve Compton said: "LocAle seemed like the perfect opportunity to support local micro breweries.

"I think people are unaware of the quality and quantity of locally-produced beers available."

Although the scheme is already up and running, it will be officially launched at three real-ale pubs in the city centre, which have all signed up to LocAle, on Tuesday, February 24.

Starting at the Criterion, in Millstone Lane, at 7.30pm, drinkers will be able to sample the local beers and find out more about the campaign. The event will then move to the Swan and Rushes, in Infirmary Square, at 8.30pm and Vin Quatre, in King Street, at 9.30pm.

Russell Hunt, manager of the Criterion, said it was important to support "the little man".

He said: "The range of beers we have are far better than any mass produced rubbish you get in most places."

Co-owner of Vin Quatre, Daksha Pate, said: "We chose to support Camra's campaign because without the beers we wouldn't have customers, and it's important to put something back."

She said she thought the Mercury's campaign to encourage people to buy local was "great".

She said: "It brings local food, and drink, in our case, to the public's attention."

Brewer Tony Davis, of the Grainstore Brewery, in Oakham, said: "For the breweries involved, in both the festival and the LocAle campaign, it's all about getting exposure.''

"We supply a couple of pubs in the county but it's hard to compete against huge breweries."

The LocAle Campaign will also feature at this year's Leicester Beer Festival, which runs from March 11-14, at the Charotar Patidar Samaj community hall, in Bay Street, near St Margaret's Way, Leicester.

More than 80 beers brewed within 25 miles of the city centre will be available.

The theme of this year's festival is the 40th anniversary of the closure of the Great Central Railway.

Organisers are expecting about 4,500 visitors to sample the 200 beers available over the four days.