VOLUNTEERS have set up a campaign to protect pubs during the coronavirus crisis.

The Westmorland Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has launched its new campaign Pulling Together.

The Westmorland branch is one of the regions which makes up national CAMRA, which is the largest lobbying group in the UK.

The campaign hopes to encourage pub owners, brewers and cider makers to come up with ideas to help keep their establishments afloat during the pandemic.

Pubs and similar venues were told to close from March 20.

"We’ve joined together with an organisation which represents independent breweries called SIBA as well as crowd funder," said Caroline Schwaller, pubs officer for the Westmorland branch.

“It's so that we can support pubs directly with anything they’re trying to do but also so that we can get information out to people who want to buy beer from them.

“The crowd funder means people can pay to help pubs in the here and now.

“Locally we’ve got nine of our pubs offering some sort of take out facility, either food or beer and a lot of them are running online quizzes.”

Westmorland CAMRA currently has 210 real ale outlets

“I think we can all agree that this is the hardest period the hospitality industry has faced," said Phil Walker, Westmorland branch chairman.

“But I do believe that the hospitality industry can come out of this. I think there are a lot of positives, with people trying to shop locally which can only benefit the industry in the future."

Mr Walker also owns the New Union pub in Kendal, which is currently CAMRA National Cider Pub of the Year.