The mayor of Munich has tapped the first keg of beer to kick off the 179th traditional German Oktoberfest.

With only two blows of his mallet, Christian Ude, announced "It's tapped!", opening the festival on Saturday. More than six million guests from around the world are expected to descend on the beer tents of Munich to celebrate Oktoberfest, which runs up to 7th October.

Last year's visitors consumed almost 8-million two-pint-mugs of beer. This year a mug, called a "Mass" in German, sells at up to 10 Euros.

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