Regulars at a Norwich pub are going to be able to help boost the fight against cancer - by drinking bottles of specially-brewed Norfolk beer.

The Trafford pub is currently selling bottles of Paws for Thought - the proceeds of which will go to Big C to help cancer sufferers and their families who use the support and information centre at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Chris Higgins, landlord of the Grove Road pub and the city's current sheriff, came up with the idea to help raise funds for this year's civic charity.

He got in touch with Reepham-based Panther Brewery and asked them to brew a special beer in aid of the charity which he has coined Paws for Thought.

The beer, a 4.1pc golden ale, will be sold from the pub with �1.25 of the �2.75 bottle going straight to the civic charity.

Mr Higgins said: 'I like the idea of the panther and paws for thought - making you think. This is a way through my office of sheriff I can instigate some fundraising for the civic charity.

'Hopefully it will raise a lot of money and raise its profile giving people awareness of the wonderful facility the support and information centre is and the wonderful work Big C do. A lot of people think its a national charity but it's not - it's looking after people locally.'

Lord Mayor Jenny Lay said she was delighted a Norfolk brewery and Norwich pub had come together to help a local cancer charity.

She said: 'I'm really pleased they're supporting Big C to raise money for cancer patients. I'm really, really pleased they're doing this for us - it's a brilliant effort on their part and I would like to thank the brewery for doing this for us.'

Martin James, owner of Panther, said he was only too happy to be able to help raise money for charity by brewing the beer.

He said: 'Chris approached me to brew this charity beer which I was happy to do because its a very worthwhile cause.'

The charity beer fits in with the Evening News's Love Your Local campaign.

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