A VILLAGE pub has been saved from closure after being brought by the customers who drink in there.

Church Fenton Community Hub borrowed £355,000 from the Public Work Loans Board to buy The White Horse on Main Street, which dates back to 1881.

Parish clerk Jeremy Sherlock thanked residents for their support and said: “Our next step as a community is to look at completing an internal and external refurbishment of the pub. These are very exciting times for everyone in the Church Fenton community.

“Village support has been critical, and our success is testament to the strong community spirit in Church Fenton. We’re also grateful to the Public Work Loans Board for lending us the money we needed to buy the pub.

Ei Publican Partnership estate manager David Lea said: “We had a buyer at a similar price for alternative development, but felt the community group, having made significant efforts to raise the funding, should be given the chance to purchase the pub.

“It’s pleasing to see the villagers in Church Fenton take on The White Horse, thus securing its future as a pub. We wish them the best of luck.”