Devizes brewer Wadworth has pledged to support the flood appeal for the Somerset Community Foundation by donating 5p for every pint of Wadworth 6X sold in nominated pubs.

The move was inspired by one of its pubs originally affected, The Rose & Crown in East Lyng, a village totally cut off during the peak of the flooding.

Paul Sullivan, Wadworth’s sales and marketing director, said: “We have seen the impact that the floods have had to the local communities which is why we decided to support the Somerset Community Foundation.

"We know that for many villages in the affected areas their pub is at the heart of their community. That is why it is so important that we support these communities.”

Seeing first hand the devastation that the floods caused in East Lyng, the team at Wadworth were quick to contact the Somerset Community Foundation to help with their appeal.

Mary Hancock, deputy chief executive of the Somerset Community Foundation, said: “Their donations mean that we are able to swiftly issue emergency grants to households affected by flooding in Somerset.

“As a community foundation, we are responding to the immediate need in our county and building resilient communities in the future.”

Wadworth chairman Charles Bartholomew said: “It has been a desperate time for the communities around our pubs and we wanted to do something to help.

"Our aim is to not only raise as much as we can for the fund but also to keep the fund raising for the Somerset Community Foundation in the minds of the public long after the floods have gone, this is equally important.”

Numerous pubs throughout the West Wiltshire and Somerset area are taking part and for every pint of Wadworth 6X that people buy in those pubs from March 1 to May 31 Wadworth will donate 5p to the fund.

A cheque for the final amount will be presented at the beginning of June to the Somerset Community Foundation at The Rose & Crown in East Lyng.

For information on participating pubs see www.wadworth.co.uk

They include:

  • The Farmhouse, Frome Road, Southwick, BA14 9QD 
  • Bell on the Common, Broughton Gifford, Melksham, SN12 8LX
  • Old Ham Tree, Ham Green, Holt, Trowbridge BA14 6PY
  • Fleur de Lys, Norton St Philip, Somerset BA2 7LG