Autumn may be just around the corner, but it’s about to get very hot for any pub customers prepared to taste some of the hottest chillis in the world.

All they have to do is cough up £1 at The Roebuck in London Road, Marlborough, for a scorching experience.

It’s all part of a busy programme over the next few months aimed at raising money for the Prospect Hospice and the new £28 million St John’s School, where licensees Dave and Ania Barrone’s daughter 11-year-old daughter Daria will be among the first pupils.

Last year the couple ran a chilli-eating contest and decided to make it an annual event. This year’s event catches fire on Saturday from 2pm.

Eight teams have already paid £25 each to take part in the three-round contest and entries can be taken on the day.

There will be no limit to the amount of drink contestants take, including one free glass of Fuller’s Discovery blonde beer provided by the brewery.

And when they’ve had enough, there will be a free glass of milk to help put out the raging fire from the world’s hottest Dorset Naga chillis.

Customers will also be able to pay £1 a pot to taste the chilli in aid of Prospect Hospice.

In October and November the pub will be raising funds for St John’s School with a novel Come Dine with Me contest, where people have to suggest a menu for the restaurant. The eight best entries will be invited to cook their choice in the Roebuck kitchen and serve it for customers to judge.

Mr Barrone said: “Our daughter Daria is going to St John’s in the new term and we decided to do this to help the school appeal.”

The £1.5 million appeal is to buy new furniture and equipment for the classrooms in the school due to open on December 7.

Mr and Mrs Barrone have hit on several successful ideas to promote their roadside pub and restaurant in the last year, including a unique monthly promotion in which they treated customers to free food and drink.

The pub will be introducing a loyalty scheme next month for local business people with free drinks and the chance to win a meal for four.