Couple toast double celebration

As a champion yard of ale drinker the last thing you need are distractions.

But for Brownhills nursery nurse Sally Townsend even a marriage proposal did not put her off her stride.

Boyfriend Stephen Morley popped the question before she prepared to defend her title at the Aldridge Beer Festival.

After accepting the proposal in front of other drinkers Sally sank a yard of 4.3 per cent strength Backyard D&B Porter in 19 seconds to retain her crown.

The 33-year-old, of Bradford Road, Brownhills, who has won the competition in all but one of the last six years, said: "As soon as I said yes, a huge roar went up from the crowd. It was amazing, I had no idea what he was planning. I think I was still buzzing when I did the competition."

Stephen, aged 34, an engineer, said: "I wanted to surprise her and thought it would be great to do it surrounded by so many people we know."

The couple will marry next summer.

The event on Saturday at Middlemore Lane scout hut raised £2,500 for 1st Aldridge 36th Walsall Scout Group where Sally is on the executive committee.