REGULARS at a York pub have told of their anger and sadness at news it is threatened with closure.

Customers at the Saddle Inn in Fulford say its a thriving, viable business which is a vital part of the community, and the area does not need any more food shops.

Now they have launched a Save Our Saddle campaign and will be setting up a petition.

The Press recently launched the Be Vocal For Your Local campaign calling on City of York Council to put a blanket Article 4 direction on all pubs to ensure companies will have to apply for planning permission.

This will give people the chance to have their say about a pub’s future instead of being helpless to stop companies moving in.

Customers fear the Saddle will be converted into a Coop store after a retail group confirmed it was one of more than 200 pubs nationwide which it had bought with the intention of turning a minority into convenience stores.

Rob Wilson, who lives just a hundred yards down the road, said he had been going to the Saddle three or four times a week for the past 35 years and was shocked to hear it was at risk. "It's part of the community," he said.

His daughter Kayleigh Wilson said she lived in Acomb but came over to visit the pub once a week. She said it was vital for people to have such a local, where they could meet up and socialise.

Richard Edmondson said there were already various retail outlets in the area where people could shop, and he was also worried about the environmental implications of the premises being converted to a shop, with delivery lorries regularly stopping outside in possibly York's busiest arterial route.

Joe Jagger, who was landlord from 2001 to 2010, said: "I am just quite sad about it. It's such a vital part of the community."

His wife Shona said people, from the older generation to young people, came there to talk, and take part in quizzes and darts.

Matthew Tunstall, who lives next door to the Saddle, said: "It's a well-run pub."