A pub in Pershore has purchased a defibrillator after raising almost £1,500 from quizzes hosted by a TV presenter.

Local resident Alex McKay began hosting online quizzes for the New Inn, on High Street, during the first lockdown but due to popular demand he has now hosted two in-person to raise the money needed for a defibrillator.

The machine arrived this week and has been registered with the British Heart Foundation, meaning it will show up on their network map.

On how he came up with the idea, Alex said: “As life started to go back to normal this year and as our local pub re-opened, I was asked by many of the regulars to do an actual quiz back at our local pub!

“I waited some months until I could think of a cause that everyone could get behind.

“Whilst sat in the bay window at the New Inn one Sunday afternoon it struck me that we didn’t have a heart defibrillator in the pub.

“With so many stories in the news about ambulance stations being closed down, ambulances stuck in traffic or at A&E I thought this would be a brilliant asset for the pub and its patrons.”

Alex, along with landlord Dean Coleman and bar staff Sophie Mendez and Jodie Hiett has been trained, receiving the TQUK Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.

Alex added: “We would like to thank all the patrons of the New Inn who supported this fundraising event, we hope that no one ever needs to use it, however if they do it will be there for them.”

Alex works as a presenter for Gem TV but during first lockdown he had to shield at home, which is when he came up with the idea of online pub quizzes in support of NHS charities.

When he realised how much defibrillators cost, he began working with pub staff to organise two in-person quizzes as well as a raffle.

In total the events raised £1,358.15.

With this money the pub was able to buy the defibrillator and had £270 left over, which has been donated to South Worcestershire Lifesaving and Lifeguard Club, based in Pershore.