A popular Sudbury pub is aiming to raise hundreds of pounds for a town charity which supports people with emotional and mental health issues during its televised sport events.

The Prince of Wales pub, in New Street, is fundraising for the Just Talk Campaign, which recently received charitable status, over the next six months.

The campaign was launched by psychotherapist Glenda D Roberts and colleague Sharon Kendall in 2016 following a number of suicides in the Sudbury area.

The pub has recently invested more than £5,000 to improve its status as a live sports venue and will donate 5p for each drink it sells during live sporting events to the campaign.

The pub is also planning two fundraising casino nights and will have collection boxes on the premises for the charity.

The Prince of Wales now has a total of six large widescreen televisions and will be screening all live televised sport, including football, rugby, boxing, motor racing, horse racing and cricket.

Duncan Tuhey, the pub’s landlord, said: “Of course our aim to become the town’s premier venue for live sports events is a business objective, but we also want to give something back to the community.

“When I heard about the Just Talk Campaign I decided that was the charity I wanted to support.

“As a publican I often meet people who may be drinking, sometimes too much, to help cope with problems in their lives. Of course we sell alcohol but we want people to come here and enjoy themselves and drink within safe and responsible limits.

“We hope by working closely with the Just Talk Campaign any of our customers who are struggling with mental health or emotional issues can access support which may help them.

“We hope to raise at least £1,500 towards the campaign over the next six-months. After the initial six-months we will meet with the campaign leaders to see how we can support it on a more permanent basis.”

The Just Talk Campaign holds free monthly drop-in sessions where people can discuss any problem they may have in confidence without needing to book an appointment.

The campaign also offers affordable one-to-one counselling services, and the charity has already been able to help many local people, some who were suicidal, to cope with their problems.

Ms Roberts, who also runs the ExploringU Wellbeing Centre based in Sudbury, said: “We are delighted to be receiving such fantastic support from the Prince of Wales.

“It is refreshing to see a pub taking such a responsible approach towards drinking and helping those who may be struggling with their emotional well-being.

“By working closely with community partners such as the Prince of Wales we hope we can reach out to and support many more local people.

“We believe everyone has the right to be heard and to have someone they can trust. We offer a safe and friendly environment where people of any age or background can come and talk freely about any issue they may have.”

The next drop-in session is being held on Saturday, March 31, between 10am and 2pm, at the Stour Valley Business Centre, Brundon Lane, Sudbury.

Further information about the Just Talk Campaign can be found at www.justtalkcampaign.co.uk Contact can also be made via email at info@justtalkcampaign.co.uk or by telephone 0330 120 0279.

To find out more about the Prince of Wales go to www.theprinceofwalessudbury.co.uk or telephone 01787 880151.