A FORMER professional footballer has teamed up with nine other publicans to offer residents and tourists a beer tour of a town.

Former Darlington midfielder Gary May said the pub trail map of Richmond, North Yorkshire, highlights the variety of offers and entertainment available at inns in the town, as well as points of interest such as restaurants.

He said the map, which guides drinkers on a tour of Richmond, was similar to the information he provided as a holiday rep in Majorca, where he worked after a fractured leg curtailed his footballing career.

Mr May, who has run The Buck Hotel for four years and is the town’s licensing officer, said the guide would serve to promote pubs at a time when more people were chosing to drink at home.

He said: “Supermarkets have killed the pub trade with all their offers and if your don’t do something a bit different nothing will change.

“We want to remind people what a good time they can have by going out for the evening. Staying at home can be boring and people don’t want to stay in one place all evening - it is nice to tour around.”