A NORTH-EAST snooker club has been named as one of the top four real ale clubs in the country.

Darlington Snooker Club, in Corporation Road, has beaten off competition from across the country to make it into the national finals of the Campaign for Real Ale’s (Camra) club of the year competition.

Owner, Peter Everett, said: “I couldn’t believe it and I was really not expecting it.

"When I found out I was in the top four I couldn’t stop shaking. It’s brilliant news.”

He will go up against three other clubs from Wakefield, in West Yorkshire, Cheltenham, in Gloucestershire and Leyton, in East London, to be crowned Camra’s overall club of the year 2012.

The winner will be announced in the next few months.

Mr Everett’s club was recently named North-East club of the year for the eighth time thanks to his commitment to real ale and local microbreweries.

Camra regional director, David Braizer, presented Mr Everett with the award at their recent Booze ‘n’ Cues beer festival.