NAVAL officers from HMS Invincible had a taste of Christmas when they visited Arkell's Brewery and tasted some Noel Ale.

The officers kicked off their seasonal celebrations in Swindon with a pint of the festive ale, named after the brewery chairman Peter Arkell's late father Noel, who was born on Christmas Day.

Mr Arkell had invited them to the brewery, after he heard that landlord Rob Hare, who runs The Talbot Inn in Eynsham near Oxford, had a son serving on the aircraft carrier.

The golden ale which has been brewed in Swindon for 15 years, and at 5.5 per cent is the brewery's strongest beer, went down a storm with the 12 crew.

Rob Hare's son, Petty Officer Albert Hare, who brought the other officers along was already a huge fan.

"This is the second time I've visited Arkell's Brewery. The first time was when I brought officers from HMS Illustrious, and we enjoyed it so much that when an opportunity arose to bring my new colleagues, I thought it was too good to miss," he said.

Petty Officer Hare's father, was a 3rd mate in the Merchant Navy but has been an Arkell's landlord for more than 25 years.