TWO pubs joined forces to give back to their local community.

The Craft Union Brewery challenged all of its local pubs with a campaign called 'Stomping into Summer' in a bid to raise funds for local communities.]

Joanne Powell, landlady of the Red Hall pub in Connah's Quay, said she joined forces with Linda Phillips, of the Clwyd in Shotton, to raise funds for Deeside Community Hospital.

She told the Leader: "Myself and Linda Phillips decided to join forces as we are both local and we chose Deeside Community hospital because that's local to everyone.

"We completed the walk in July, which was the worst day ever because it was lashing down but we did it."

The pair, along with staff and customers set off from the Clwyd Pub and completed the 8k hike to Neston.

They raised £1,125 which was donated to the cause in September.

Joanne added: "I wasn't expecting to raise so much, we were very happy with the generosity of the people to be honest.

"Deeside hospital, although it's council run, they rely on donations for their equipment and most people in this area especially, Connah's Quay and Shotton, have probably been in Deeside hospital at some point in time.

"It's not an emergency hospital but they send you there for fractures and x-rays so that's why we chose that one."

Joanne has been the landlady at the Red Hall pub for about 12 months and she said she does what she can for her local community.

She said: "This pub is sort of central because we are right in the middle of a housing estate, so I've been trying to get the local community involved in things.

"Th pub itself before Craft Union took over was just a pub, it didn't really get involved in anything.

"We've given money to other causes like the Connah's Quay Tigers towards their football kits and Shooting Stars the cancer charity in Wrexham last year, we raised over £2,000 for them.

"A big thank you to everyone who took part and supported us but a special thanks must go to my barmaid Heather Evans. She went on tour in the local area and got people to donate along the way including local pubs, and the ticket man on the train when we came home."