A pub held a ferret race to launch its latest real ale, which is named after the animals - and rewarded the runners with a pint.

Thoroughbreds Suzy, George, Apollo, Zeus, Cassie, Rosie and Toffee were pitted against each other in a series of races at the Gribble Inn and Microbrewery at Oving, near Chichester.

The event was organised to mark the launch of Fursty Ferret - the pub's newest and most successful brew - in 260 pubs across the region.

The ferrets were each encouraged to race through a pipe with the lure of a freshly-pulled pint at the end as bait.

Pub manager Brian Elderfield, 58, said: "The ferret that won overall was Suzy and I noticed it was her drinking the most."

Suzy clearly enjoyed the attention as she posed for photographers after winning three races on the trot.

But punters speculated the beneficial effects of the real ale seemed short-lived, as she limped home behind her fellow competitors in the final race, looking distinctly tipsy.

In decades past, the idyllic country home of Rose Gribble became the pub known today as the Gribble Inn.

According to legend, inquisitive ferrets used to sneak through the pub's back door on a mission to sample its reputed brew.

Mr Elderfield said: "We are very proud of Fursty Ferret and, bearing in mind the ale's name, it is particularly appropriate the Gribble Inn should be the venue for some top-drawer ferret racing to mark the launch.

"Who knows, we may introduce ferret racing on a permanent basis."

Edward Meadows, of the pub's parent company Hall and Woodhouse, said the chain was using its quirky Fursty Ferret beer in an effort to coax younger drinkers to the delights of real ale.