A LIFESAVING Devon charity has received a cheque for £1,477, thanks to enthusiasts who attend monthly quizzes at the New Inn, Coleford.

Andy Jackson, a volunteer rider with Devon Freewheelers, received the cheque from landlord, George Cowie.

George and volunteers organise the very popular quizzes held every month at the public house, and the quizzes are always well-attended.

A volunteer quizmaster organises the quiz questions each time and often there is a theme to the questions.

Devon Freewheelers is a free out-of-hours courier service to the NHS in and around Devon, a service provided by volunteers.

Andy explained that the volunteers provide the service 24-hours-a-day, seven days-a-week supporting the NHS in delivering essential blood supplies for the purposes of transfusion, blood samples for the purposes of testing, organs and human tissue samples for the purposes of transplant, medication direct to the patient at home in the case of urgent need and Donor Breast Milk (which also comes under the Human Tissue Act) to the Neonatal Intensive Care Units throughout Devon.

He added: “Occasionally we are obliged to go further afield to support the patients in the hours of crisis.

“More recently, we started transporting life-saving blood products direct to Air Ambulances.

“Devon Freewheelers carry out this vital service to the Devon Air Ambulance Trust and the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Trust.”

He thanked the New Inn and those who attend the quizzes for the generous donation, which he said would help to keep the service running.

Mr Cowie added that some of the funding had been raised from the annual Christmas draw held at the public house.

Over recent years, The New Inn quiz evenings and fundraising has raised thousands of pounds for local charities.