DRINKERS at the Red Lion in Cricklade have raised more than £1,550 for charity through the pub's weekly meat draw.

The money will benefit the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, which is the pub's nominated national charity this year.

Other fundraising activities have included the sale of surplus garden produce such as tomato and chilli plants.

And one weekend a traction engine at the Bell in Purton Stoke generated more money as customers paid to ride of a trailer behind the engine on journeys to the Red Lion in Cricklade.

But it is not just national charities which benefit from the fundraising.

The Red Lion Fund has contributed to a host of local organisations including Cricklade Day Care Centre, Heberden House, St Sampson's Junior School, Cricklade Fire Brigade, as well as St Mary's, St Sampson's and United Reformed Churches. It has donated £37,000 since it started in 1987.

Chris Morley, a trustee of the fund, said: "The support of the landlord, Mark Whittam, is fundamental to its viability and his ability to part customers from their loose change in order to increase the funds is legendary.

"The most important people in all the fundraising efforts remain the customers. It is their generosity that gives us the ability to make all our donations."