A Leek Wootton pub is hoping to raise enough money to pay for a life-saving defibrillator at a charity festival this weekend.

The Anchor on Warwick Road is hosting 'Defibrillator Festival' on Saturday 1 August, promising "good vibes" and family-friendly fun.

The event - which runs from 3pm until late - will also raise money for Cancer Research as the community pub continues its strong work of supporting community initiatives.

"We are doing the charity event to fund the defibrillator," Sean Rouse of The Anchor told Nub News.

"We have also got representatives of Kenilworth, Warwick and Leamington Cancer Research coming down."

He continued: "We are asking people to chuck their change in, that makes a lot of difference, rather than asking people to pay money on the door.

"We did a lot of charity work during lockdown, that worked really well having the buckets out, as opposed to asking for 'x' amount.

"We did it for Cancer Research again; we raised around £8,000.

"And we raised money for the church in Leek Wootton.

"We want to do a lot."

A new defibrillator is expected to cost around £1,500 and will be installed on the front of The Anchor, giving access to as much of the village as possible.

Sean was further inspired to help support the cause after meeting campaigner Sophie Owen at The Warwickshire in Leek Wootton.

Sophie - who works in health safety and wellbeing - has been raising awareness of heart-related deaths for a number of years after her father Chris passed away after suffering a cardiac arrest outside his house while she was just 17 years old.

Having campaigned to have a defibrillator installed at the University of Leicester where she was a student, she has helped install eight more across the East and West Midlands over the past few years, as well as appearing on TV and radio to raise awareness.

"I lost my dad and I wanted to do something really positive," she told Nub News.

"The business campus didn't have a defib and it all started there.

"I went on the news, on the radio. And since that point, this is now the 10th defib I am supporting."

Sophie continued: "The pub is on a busy main road and I think it would be an ideal location [for a defibrillator] for the community, for the people who go to the pub.

"With the footfall and the traffic around it, I think it is needed.

"I think the nearest one is in The Warwickshire, in the gym. It is too far away and it is indoors."

Saturday's event will feature live music from two covers bands throughout the afternoon, as well as food from the pub's popular menu.

The event is free to attend but collection buckets will be in place across the pub as The Anchor looks to raise as much money as possible.

Sophie will also be there on Saturday to lead an interactive demonstration on CPR, how to use a defibrillator and on preventative measures to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest.

With the sunny weather set to continue, Sean said it is a great opportunity for locals to come down and support two worthy causes and make the most of the fully refurbished beer garden.

"It is a beautiful village pub, a lovely garden and there really is a family atmosphere," he said.

"It is the first time we have ever done an event quite like this and we are really looking forward to it and we don't know quite what to expect.

"The weather looks good too!"

Sophie added: "There is a mindset of 'I am never going to need it, it is never going to be me'.

"Actually - the facts from the British Heart Foundation - 80 per cent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home.

"Having a defibrillator increases the chances of survival by up to 70 per cent."

She continued: "It is an expensive piece of kit, so any donation is absolutely welcome.

"You never know whether it is going to be you, a loved one, a family member, or it is going to be you that is going to need to intervene to save somebody's life.

"So I would encourage people to come down, have a drink, have a chat. Let's not make this topic a taboo, let's get it in place.

"I believe no matter where you are, no matter what community you are in, you should have basic access to life support, which is your defibrillator."

To find out more, head to the pub's Facebook page here.