Corby landlady's Coats For Kids campaign leaves children feeling warm, dry and cosy

A Corby landlady who is concerned for the wellbeing of children as the cold and wet winter months approach has set up a free coat pick-up point at her pub.

Based at the Shire Horse pub in Willowbrook Road, Lesley Lapsley had appealed for donations of winter wear to clothe chilly children of the town.

Donations of 300 new and pre-loved coats, as well as hats, scarves and mittens were given to the hostelry for her Coats For Kids campaign.

Mrs Lapsley said: "We have been amazed with the generosity of Corby people donating to our Coats For Kids.

"I saw a TV programme about a woman who had to move out of her house quickly and the kids didn't have any coats.

"I thought that we could do something like that here. People have coats from their kids that they have grown out of and we've got the space at the pub to store them."

Due to the success of the campaign, Mrs Lapsley no longer needs coats but would like people to come and choose one.

Some parents have picked up one coat and dropped off an old one that their children have grown out of. A pub regular donated £100 cash which bought seven coats.

Mrs Lapsley said: "One little girl came in and she got a brand new coat and hat. She was so over the moon. I had to go into the kitchen for a little cry.

"Children's coats are quite expensive now. People are more skint than they were and eighty per cent of not a lot is not a lot."

The next coat giveaway session takes place at the Shire Horse on Saturday October 3, from 10am to 12 noon.

Mrs Lapsley added: "I have three kids and a grandson. I know it can be expensive. Please come along if you need a coat for a child. It's before opening hours and nobody will be judging you. We don't want anyone to be cold."

Coats For Kids is not accepting any more donations at the moment.

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