A DORSET brewery has donated £7,000 to help people to enjoy the thrill of sailing with the help of 49er stars Ben Rhodes and Stevie Morrison.

The duo took time out from training in Weymouth to receive the cheque on behalf of the Chesil Trust.

Palmers Brewery from Bridport have been donating five pence from every pint of Dorset Gold to the Trust that helps get young or disabled people out on the water.

In total, Palmers has donated £23,500 since it began supporting the Chesil Trust in 2007.

David Dunn, Chairman of the Trustees of the Chesil Trust, said: “For over five years, Palmers Brewery has been one of our most generous sponsors.

“Their support helps us keep running our Sail for a Fiver programme, which so far has introduced around 11,000 children to sailing. We’re also able to put those who shine through the RYA course Level 2.”

Cleeves Palmer, Sales and Marketing Director at Palmers Brewery, who donated a barrel of Palmers Dorset Gold to Ben Rhodes on his wedding day in September, said: “We’re very keen to help the continual development of community sailing in Weymouth, providing opportunities to help build a sporting legacy.

“Chesil Trust events have always been a tremendous success and we’re delighted to introduce more children to the exciting sport of sailing. Who knows, we’ll perhaps discover among them the next generation of Olympians.”

Rhodes and Morrison came fifth in this year’s 49er class in the Olympic sailing events held in the borough and they will start training for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in March.

The pair said that Palmers Brewery and the Chesil Trust were providing an amazing opportunity and a legacy for youngsters in the area.

Rhodes said: ‘The Chesil Trust is a great charity that offers amazing support and could be the only chance some people have to experience sailing.’ Morrison said that the brewery was ‘close to their hearts’ and that Prince Charles had christened their boat with a bottle.

He said: ‘The Olympics is about a legacy and the work done by the Chesil Trust is trying to help make the legacy a reality.”