People living in Lancashire drink the cheapest beer in England.

Beer costs just �1.68 a pint in the county - 24p below the national average, according to the latest Good Pub Guide.

But Londoners and those living in Surrey pay �2.18 for a pint of their favourite beer.

"In effect, pub-goers everywhere other than Lancashire are having their money creamed off, like the froth on the top of a pint," said the guide's editor Alisdair Aird.

Value for money

After Lancashire, the least-expensive beer is sold in Cumbria and Yorkshire at �1.78 a pint.

Staffordshire, Nottinghamshire and Worcestershire trial behind at �1.80 a pint while Derbyshire and Herefordshire drinkers pay �1.81.

Buckinghamshire and Berkshire are among the most expensive at �2.10 and �2.14 respectively.

The guide says the best way to get value for money is to choose a beer from a smaller brewery.

Big changes

A pint from one of the big national breweries typically costs about �1.86 to �1.91, while a smaller brewery's beer could be as low as �1.46.

The guide cites big changes in British pubs over the last two decades.

Nearly two thirds of pubs now have non-smoking areas.

Only 8% of pubs exclude children compared with 58% 20 years ago.

Twenty years ago, one in five pubs had a juke box compared to just one in 17 today.

"A warm welcome, out-of-the-ordinary drinks, good-value food and a good deal of comfort are qualities customers have come to expect," said Mr Aird.