Tom Browns in Dorchester has donated £1,000 from Coca-Cola to the Dorchester Food Bank, after being shortlisted in the Community Hero category at this year's Great British Pub Awards.

Katy Jones and her staff at Tom Browns, in High East Street, made it to the last six in the Community Hero category in October. All the shortlisted pubs have been awarded funding to help them continue with the community work that got them to the final.

Since becoming manager at Tom Browns five years ago, Katy has committed to giving back to the local community, which has been instrumental in making the pub a success – and that's why she's chosen a local cause to receive her prize money.

Dorchester Food Bank was set up more than 12 years ago to help those in the community who were struggling financially and who were unable to feed themselves or their family. It's funded by food donations from churches, schools, businesses and individuals, and has seen a surge in demand in recent months amid the cost-of-living crisis

The team at Tom Browns also fundraises for national charities with a connection to the pub or its staff. Every year, the pub organises a duck race fun day in aid of Young Lives vs Cancer.

The team at Tom Browns also runs an annual giant 'Hokey Cokey' to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Society, which recently saw more than 700 people take to Dorchester's High Street and dance the day away while the town centre was closed to traffic.

Manager Katy said: "This is proud moment for us, our pub and our town. We want to make food accessible for all and hope our donation will help to make a real difference in Dorchester.

"To have been recognised at the Great British Pub Awards is a great honour. With the funding from Coca-Cola, I'm pleased to be able to help our local foodbank wherever possible, which is experiencing a higher demand than ever before.

"It is undoubtedly the commitment, hard work, dedication and drive of the whole community in Dorchester and the surrounding area that has helped to put our town on the map, and that has fostered a sense of community spirit that truly stands out."

Holly Firmin, Senior Community Partnerships Manager at Coca-Cola added: "It's inspiring to see how pubs are continuing to support local people and good causes post pandemic and now during the tough economic climate we're all experiencing.

"We're really pleased to be helping the team at Tom Browns and the wider community in Dorset. Funding this donation is our way of saying well done and thank you."