A village pub couple who miraculously survived the Sri Lankan tsunami staged a weekend rock festival to thank locals who have set them back on the road to success.

Louise Neary and Sean Whelan have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of Doddington villagers since taking over The Chequers exactly a year ago.

Amazingly, Louise also walked away unscathed from the terrorist bombings in 2002.

Louise said: “We organised the festival to give something back to Doddington and thank everyone for their support.

“The people here are incredible and every time we want anything they are here. We had a chimney fire in February, and villagers turned up with buckets and mops to help clean up.”

But a road closure meant many people turned away and others struggled to get through.

Louise said: “One of my regulars told me on Saturday that there was a sign at the Faversham Road junction with the A2 at Ospringe, that said it was closed for re-surfacing.”

Another customer ignored a road closure sign off the A20 and drove through. But there was no sign of any work being carried out.

Some residents had received notices about re-surfacing, but no specific dates were given, and they were not asked to move their vehicles.

She said: “I was livid when I rang Kent County Council and was told there was no record of any work being carried out in the area, and even more angry when they said it would take two weeks for someone to look into it. It cost me a lot of trade.”

Locals have helped the couple create a new beer garden, with one villager donating a gate, while others have helped with landscaping.

Louise added: “Doddington is an amazing place to live, it’s a proper community and we get so much support because people are determined not to lose their village pub.”

Louise and her family’s amazing escape from the Tsunami in 2004 destroyed her import business based in the village of Unawatuna.

Partner Sean, 51, was surfing when the waves washed him inland and his daughter Siobhan and boyfriend Sea Kirby were the only survivors from the guest house they were staying in

Louise and her 80-year-old mum Margaret, and Louise’s son Joel, brother Martin and a friend also fled to safety.

“The village was one of the worst hit and yet all of us got out alive.” said Louise.

They had previously run a guest house In Cornwall, but never felt at home in the village but in Doddington, it’s a different story when it comes to community spirit.