AN Ipswich publican has issued a call to arms to colleagues in the trade to help save a pub watchdog organisation.Michael Collins, who is chairman of Ipswich PubWatch, told the Evening Star that something must be done to keep National PubWatch from folding.

AN Ipswich publican has issued a call to arms to colleagues in the trade to help save a pub watchdog organisation.

Michael Collins, who is chairman of Ipswich PubWatch, told the Evening Star that something must be done to keep National PubWatch from folding.

The body, which lobbies government on issues affecting the brewing and pub industries, faces financial ruin if it cannot attract more money and support from the trade.

Big name breweries – including Suffolk's own Bury-based brewer Greene King – have given emergency aid but pub landlords fear the National PubWatch may yet close.

Mr Collins said he was going to ask members of the Ipswich scheme to donate money to the worthwhile cause.

"I will be asking the licensees to club together to see if we can raise funds and to ask other Pub Watches to consider the same way forward," he said.

He added that PubWatch can bend the ears of government ministers on issues important to the pub trade – such as the "old fashioned" opening times and pub crime.