A Kenilworth pub has announced it will run a free children's playgroup to help parents with the cost of living crisis.

The Bear and Ragged Staff announced the initiative earlier this month on social media and has already received a wealth of positive feedback.

But general manager Danny peck said it was the least the pub could do.

"We are in times now where the cost of living is at a record high," he said.

"And for families like mine when I was growing up we did the basics and got food on the table but at times we had to make tough choices and that is becoming more and more of a thing now for working class families.

"So we wanted to see what we could do to help out with families, especially with new borns. It is not cheap, it is not easy, so we wanted to do what we could to support people.

"I am new to Kenilworth, from what I have seen it is a fantastic town, but there is little support for younger families here. So we wanted to reach out, offer support to local families and give a bit back."

Following its posts on social media the Warwick Road pub has already been inundated with donations of toys, clothes and volunteers offering their time.

And local charity Clothing Coventry has offered to donate and stock a rack of children's clothes and to bring volunteers down to look after the children.

"We have had a lot of positive feedback," Danny added.

"The reaction we have had so far, and how proud the staff have been made to feel is indescribable.

"We never thought it would blow up to the size it has, and now we just don't want to let anybody down.

"We want to be known as a pub that does good, and we are part of Green King which has a long history of supporting charities and people in difficult situations.

"We do a lot supporting Macmillan and cancer charities, but we wanted to do something that was more one-to-one."

The playgroup, which will meet for the first time on May 11, will be free to attend and there will be refreshments available for purchase on the day.

Buying anything at the pub will be completely optional, and there will be no expectation on guests to spend any money whilst they are there.

Danny explained: "It is not about making money, sure there will be coffee and cake on sale, but we are not looking at the revenue stream.

"We are purely hoping to help people in the local area.

"We are a community pub, so if we can support two or three families or just someone then it will be a massive achievement.

"We are all working people, all the staff come from hard working families, everyone has had tough times in their lives, so this is the right thing to be doing."

For more information, follow this link to the Bear and Ragged Staff Facebook page.