A HEREFORDSHIRE pub has started its Valentine's Day celebrations early this year by inviting people to leave messages for loved ones.

The Oak Inn at Staplow, near Ledbury, is inviting customers to write Valentine's messages to hang on a tree in the pub in exchange for donations raising money to buy a defibrillator.

The popular pub is aiming to raise £1,500 so that the charity Calon Hearts can install a defibrillator outside the pub. 

The pub will also be fundraising for the defibrillator at its February charity quiz on February 4 at 7pm.

Chris Owen-Howell, landlord at the Oak Inn, said: "Let's see how our wonderful community comes together to help."

The pub collected its first love heart-shaped message on the tree on January 7. It was left by Vicky Faye, who had been the 1,000th person to leave a message on the Oak's last project, the festive memorial tree. Her sons Ned, Billy and Oscar also left Valentine's notes on the tree.

Ledbury Reporter: Ned, Oscar and Billy FayeNed, Oscar and Billy Faye (Image: Bridie Adams)

ALSO READ:

The festive memorial tree allowed customers to write and leave messages for lost loved ones for free over Christmas.

Ms Faye had previously left a message remembering her father who was a regular at the Oak before he died.

She said that her Valentine's message was more happy, but that what she wrote was a secret.