The message of drinking responsibly over Christmas is being endorsed by Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust as it launches charity beer for the first time.

The organisation is working together with St Agnes-based brewery, Driftwood Spars, to create its own unique batch of beer, which will be low in strength to encourage people to drink sensibly.

Proceeds from the brew will be used to support the vital service offered by Cornwall Air Ambulance (CAAT).

Marketing manager Dania Shaw said: “The team at Driftwood Spars are such staunch supporters of the Air Ambulance that everyone involved was excited about creating this beer.

“We are aiming for a reddish/amber, hoppy beer, which is low strength, just four per cent, to appeal to a wide range of people. We also want to encourage people to drink sensibly and responsibly.”

The team at the Driftwood Spars will produce a brew that yields 22 casks, of which 14 casks will be sold at the pub.

The remaining eight casks will be turned into bottled beer, with 25 pence from every bottle going to CAAT and ten pence from every pint also going to the charity.

The beer should be ready to bottle any day.

Owner of the Driftwood Spars, Lou Treseder, said: “Everyone at the Drifty fully appreciates what an amazing job the charity and paramedics do for the county.

“I’m confident the beer will be very popular and we already thinking about brewing another batch next year.”

Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust is now launching a competition for a member of the public to name the beer.

The closing for the competition is November 27 and all entries should be sent to competition@cornwallairambulancetrust.org.

A case of 12 beers will be given as a prize to the winning entry and there will also be a chance to visit the helicopter and the paramedics.