PUB landlady Ann Dunkley thought she would have to call time on her career after her husband collapsed and died from a heart attack.

But with the help of her daughter Tracy, and regulars at the Ampleforth Arms in Risinghurst, Oxford, she has managed to keep the beer flowing, and is now looking forward to the future.

Mrs Dunkley told how her husband John, 64, suffered a heart attack and died on March 10.

She said: “It has been a year of hell. One minute John was watching football in the bar with the locals, and the next minute he had collapsed on the floor of our flat upstairs.

“We forgot to tell people downstairs what had happened so the regulars were stunned when the ambulance turned up.

“John had been suffering diabetes for a number of years, and was due to start dialysis, but unfortunately he died before the treatment could start.

“I didn’t think I would be able to carry on running the pub after John died, but everyone has been so supportive.

“The locals have been so kind. There was standing room only at John’s funeral and I must have had more than 100 cards.

“The support I have received from local people has been overwhelming, considering we had only been in the pub for a few months when John died.”

Mrs Dunkley, 64, said she and her husband moved from running the Chester Arms off Iffley Road to the Ampleforth Arms just over a year ago.

She added: “John was a good landlord and a very genial host and I never thought I would be able to get to this point without him.

“But my daughter Tracy Connolly and lots of other people have rallied round and I am now feeling more positive.

“There are lots of pub teams for pool, poker and darts, and there is also a crib league.

“The pub is a real focal point in the community and we want to keep that going.”

Mother-of-two Tara O’Loughlin, 40, of Downside End, Risinghurst, said: “I have been going to the pub since the Dunkleys arrived and it has now got a really good atmosphere.”

Former barmaid at the pub Jo Lawrence, 33, of Stanway Road, Risinghurst, added: “Everyone has tried to support Ann and her family after what happened – the pub held a great Halloween party and about 50 kids came along.”

The Ampleforth Arms in Collinwood Road is owned by Punch Taverns.

Tony Goulding, pubs officer for the Oxford branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, said: “Ann has had a lot to cope with and we think she has done very well to keep the pub going without her husband.”