A PUB landlord has received a special award for reaching out to people in need.

Dan Kilduff from a village pub near Bridgwater is credited with saving lives by identifying then spending time talking to young men in mental health crisis and signposting them to a Somerset charity Heads Up for help.

“You have reached out to many vulnerable men and number of them at risk of suicide and built their confidence to talk about how they are feeling and signposted them to us and local specialised services,” said Heads Up director Bridget Harvey.

“As you are aware suicide is the biggest premature death in the UK in men and we just wanted to recognise on World Mental Health Day all your good work and say thank you for all the time and support you have given to many men in your local area.

“It gives me much pleasure in awarding you this Reaching out for Mental Health Award in recognition of all the work you have undertaken in helping local men seek help in their journey to recovery.”

One young man said "Dan saved my life.”

The suicide rate in the county is above the national average and between 60-65 people lose their lives to suicide in the county each year.

And it is a problem skewed towards men.

The latest figures (2021-23) for Somerset showed 20.2 deaths per 100,000 by suicide for males in a year compared with 5.3 deaths per 100,000 for females.

Dan’s pub, The Crown Inn at Catcott is more than 400 years old and has the warmth and character so many pubs have lost over the years retaining an open log fire, original flagstone floors, cob walls and low beamed ceilings.

“If a member of staff in Wetherspoons stopped serving to spend time talking to a troubled customer you are risking the sack,” said Dan.

His pub is different.

The award was presented by Heads Up trustee Vanessa Gordon who said afterwards: “We need more people like Dan.”