A pub landlord who has gone above and beyond to help Ukraine since the Russian invasion will temporarily be focusing his efforts to help another life saving charity.

Tom Littledyke, who runs the Shave Cross Cellar bar and Antonio’s Italian taverna in Lyme Regis plus is landlord of the Shave Cross Inn near Bridport, will be opening this year's Lifeboat Week in Lyme Regis.

The opening ceremony takes place on Saturday, July 23 at 1.30pm.

Lyme Regis Lifeboat Week will run until Saturday July 30 and is an event held to raise money for the RNLI.

Since the war began, Tom has twice driven the 1,300 miles to Ukraine in an old mini bus loaded with humanitarian aid and with the help of a convoy of volunteers. To date, Tom and his partner Georgia have helped to organise seven convoys, which saw them delivering items such as donated sleeping bags, children’s toys, coats, and tinned food that was left outside his pub.

There are now plans to buy a ‘safe house’ on the borders of Poland and Ukraine for refugees using some of the generous donations to Tom’s fundraising page.

Tom, a former Royal Marine Reservist, who attended Woodroffe School in Lyme Regis says he is proud of the response he has received from the people in his home town to his appeals for aid.

He said: “The town really came together, and the generosity of the people of Lyme and district has been fantastic.

“Too many times do I say or hear the phrase ‘I wish I could do/have done more. There is always something you can do, doesn’t matter how small as long as it’s in the right direction.”

The donations that Tom received included ‘huge’ supplies of non-lethal military equipment, radios, armour, warm clothing, blankets and medical items. Aside from the donations of materials, Tom and Georgia led a highly successful online appeal and raised more than a whopping £25,000, which allowed them to donate more supplies and aid.

Amazingly, Tom and his team have also received donations of vehicles such as an ambulance, a 7.5-ton lorry and another mini bus - a welcome donation since Tom’s mini bus broke down several times during his journeys.

Donations can still be made at www.just-giving.com/crowdfunding/thomas-littledyke