A pub in Kent is one of just six from across the country to reach the final of the Community Pub Hero Awards.

The Flying Horse in Cage Lane, near Ashford is in the running for the Charity Fundraising Pub Hero prize.

The pub in Smarden, which is owned by brewer Shepherd Neame, raised money for a range of causes with support from the community.

Landlady, Natasha Hartfield, earned £600 in just one day through a cupcake sale and used the funds to buy essential items for families affected by the war in Ukraine.

As well as this, the public house raised funds or the grandchild of one of its regulars suffering with spinal muscular atrophy. The pub produced a 2023 calender with all proceeds going towards the baby’s treatment.

Ms Hartfield told KentOnline of her surprise at the nomination.

"I wasn't sure how to feel when I got the news, it was a massive surprise to be honest," she said

The competition had more than 200 entries from boozers across the country.

The awards are organised by PubAid with the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group and sponsored by Matthew Clark.

PubAid co-founder Des O’Flanagan said: “Our heartfelt congratulations go to The Flying Horse. Choosing the finalists from a very strong set of entries was a real challenge and those pubs who have reached the shortlist should be very proud of their achievement.

“Judges were hugely impressed by the stories from so many pubs, who have raised astonishing sums for charities, or provided incredible support for local people. The awards demonstrate, once again, that pubs are a force for good in their communities.”

All finalists will be invited to a presentation at the House of Commons, where the winners will be announced next month.

Seventy of the 200 pubs entered into the competition were nominated by their local MP and the entries were judged by a panel of industry experts.

The Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP, chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group, said: “To receive 70 nominations from MPs is an excellent result and shows how pubs are valued as hubs of charity and community support in constituencies across the country.

"Congratulations to The Flying Horse on reaching the finals in a very tough competition.”