A CAMPAIGN to keep York’s local pubs open has been backed by the licensees of a village inn.

City of York Council last month backed a motion by its Liberal Democrat group calling for the authority to help protect pubs and lobby for a freeze in beer duty, as well encouraging residents to register their local as an asset of community value.

This would improve a community’s chances of buying a pub threatened with closure or put up for sale.

The campaign is being supported by Ray and Gill Stannard, who run The Lord Collingwood in Poppleton.

Gill said: “Good pubs are at the heart of most communities, but many are struggling and I am really pleased this campaign is helping to give them a much-needed helping hand – we need to remind villagers that if they don’t use their pubs, they may lose them.”