A VILLAGE pub has reopened after a year of closure thanks to support from a North Yorkshire brewery.

The Half Moon, in Sharow, near Ripon, has been refurbished by new licensees Heather and Graham Raine and re-opened, creating 12 jobs.

The couple called upon the area’s Black Sheep Brewery to anchor the bar with its Black Sheep Best Bitter and Golden Sheep.

David Croft, senior business development manager at Masham-based Black Sheep Brewery, said: "Pubs like the Half Moon are very much the heart of their communities, so it is great to see Heather and Graham giving this one a new lease of life.

"As not only their local, but Yorkshire’s favourite, brewery, Black Sheep is proud to have been chosen to be at the forefront of their offering. We wish Heather and Graham well with the pub."

Mrs Raine said: “This is a great community and we are very excited to be bringing such a great public house back to life and creating jobs for local people.

“The response from the locals has been brilliant and they love the new look we have given the Half Moon."