VILLAGERS in North Yorkshire are launching a bid to save their much-loved local pub.

The Rose and Crown in Sutton on the Forest has closed, just a year after the village's other pub shut its doors for good.

Desperate not to see Sutton on the Forest left without anywhere for locals to meet and socialise, neighbours have now started meeting to talk about a community buy-out for the popular pub.

Village man David Brown organised the first meeting on Friday evening, and saw 80 people turn out to share their views.

He said: "It went really well - about 80 people attended and 35 indicated they would be interested in forming a community to purchase the pub.

"Now I need volunteers to form a steering committee, and I have had a couple of people come forward."

A questionnaire has also been produced asking people in the village what they would want from a community-owned pub. It can be downloaded from the village website at suttonontheforestvillage.org.uk and should be completed and returned by Wednesday, November 25.

The next meeting will be held on Friday, November 27 for locals to talk more about plans for the pub.

Mr Brown said they were also turning to the Plunkett Foundation and the Pub is the Hub for help and advice on a community buy out for the Rose and Crown.