THIRSTY visitors to Worcester’s first-ever canal festival earlier this month helped a pub raise hundreds for a homeless shelter in the city.

The Chestnut pub in Lansdowne Road raised £250 from the sales of selected lager, ale and cider sold during the Worcester Canal Festival to Maggs Day Centre in Deansway.

Landlord Colin Robinson said brewery company Enterprise Inns had chipped in by donating a barrel of beer to sell during the festival.

“I just like doing things for charity,” he said.

“I’ve been doing things like this all my life.

“It’s what I pub should be I think.”

Maggs service manager Mel Kirk said the cash would be used to pay for cooked breakfasts and lunches for homeless people in the city.

“We make about 10 to 15 breakfasts a day and can vary from 25 to 35 for lunch on a usual day,” she said.

“We charge a nominal fee of 50p for breakfast and £1 for lunch if they book ahead or £1.50 on the day. We do that to help them learn budgeting skills.”

The three-day Worcester Canal Festival, which was based around Lansdowne Park and started on Friday, June 12, included a colourful flotilla of boats, live music and a charity auction and was a roaring success.

Organisers have said the wheels are already in motion to hold the event for a second time next year.

For more information on Maggs Day Centre call 01905 25027 or visit www.maggsdaycentre.co.uk.