Customers at a Stoke-on-Trent pub embarked on a fund raising voyage to support the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI).

More than £700 was raised during seven days of fund raising at the Bulls Head, Burslem, owned by locally based Titanic Brewery.

Both the Bulls Head, in St.John's Square, and the Burslem brewery have longstanding links with the RNLI and the recent Titanic Trek - a 12 mile long sponsored walk in conjunction with the Potteries Pub Preservation Group - raised over £1,000 for lifeboat crews.

Mark Harding, regional RNLI  fund raising co-ordinator, accepted a cheque for £711 from Bulls Head landlord Bob Crumpton.

"To raise so much in such a short time is fantastic, especially at a time when people have been suffering due to the recession," said Mark, a crewman with the New Brighton lifeboat on Merseyside.

Mark was joined by members of the North Staffordshire RNLI fundraising group at the presentation which took place as Bulls Head regulars enjoyed a quiz night for the Wear It Pink breast cancer campaign.

Pub landlord, Bob, said: "We like to get involve in all kinds of charity efforts and felt it would be appropriate to make the RNLI presentation during a fundraising night.

"We have a longstanding association with the RNLI. The brewery got its name because the captain of the Titanic came from the Potteries, so there is a natural link to the work of the RNLI. 

"Fundraising took place over seven days in late September and early October. Unusually, Port Vale were at home three times in that week and the pub gets full on match days which helped a lot."

Events included a quiz night, special beer tasting sessions, and a live music night. Customers were also asked to pay a small donation on top of the price of a pint.