Pub backs trips to shrine

GOOD Samaritans who help to take sick and housebound people to visit the Roman Catholic shrine at Lourdes in France have been given a donation towards their venture by a Hinckley pub.

Louise and Darren Lavender, the husband and wife team who run The New Plough on Leicester Road, hold monthly quiz nights to raise funds for community causes in and around the town.

One such event generated £430 for the St Peter’s Loudes Group, based at St Peter’s RC Church, also on Leicester Road, not far from the pub.

A cheque for the amount was collected by Ian Coe and fellow volunteers Jean and Mark Connor and Noel Balfe who all act as volunteer carers for the cross-Channel pilgrimages.

■ The next charity quiz night at The New Plough will be on Thursday May 25 in support of Hinckley Mencap which runs social clubs for adults with learning difficulties at its base in Hill Street in the town.