The hunt is on for a Cornish "panto dame" to bring to life the famous face on the label of a top British beer.

The befuddled Betty Stoggs character is a big part of the beer's success story - in 2005 the ale was judged one of the top six best bitters in the country at the Great British Beer Festival in Olympia.

Now a human version of Betty is to go on tour to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Truro-based Skinners Brewery and raise money for the brewery's adopted charity, the Children's Hospice South West.

The plan is for 20 big charity nights at pubs across Cornwall, starting in April, with each one featuring a 30-question fun quiz, with prizes, compered by Betty and with a raffle to raise money for the hospice.

But first the brewery must find its real-life Betty - man or woman - which has sparked the most unusual recruitment campaign since Steve and Sarah Skinner established their brewery in 1997.

"We will go down the professional agency route if we have to, but first we thought it would be a great opportunity for an aspiring or established Cornish panto dame,'" said Steve.

"The real-life Betty will need to be a real character in his or her own right, with a strong and authentic Cornish accent - a really big personality. Betty must have a great sense of humour - and be able to take her drink, of course! She will be at each pub throughout the evening, not just for the quiz."

Steve added: "We haven't finalised details of the tour yet and we are expecting loads more prospective pubs than our target number of 20. So for our choice of pubs it will be first come first served at the outset, with the only qualification being that they sell Betty Stogs bitter of course!"

The Cornish folklore character was a native of West Cornwall. She was unkempt and lazy, could never mend her stockings, couldn't knit or cook - and definitely liked her ale! Her child was taken from her by the "small people," washed in the morning dew and returned. The shock of it is said to have turned Betty into a reformed character.

Today's namesake beer has won a host of prestigious awards. The tour of Cornish pubs will be a highlight of a programme of special events being drawn up to celebrate the brewery's tenth anniversary year.

The business has consistently expanded and is currently enjoying record sales - with Betty Stogs and other ales, also taking their names from Cornish folklore, having long since become firm favourites in the west and much further afield.