VILLAGERS are spearheading a campaign to save their community's pub and hope to emulate the successful Golden Ball in York.

The Bay Horse in Murton has been on the market for several months now, but an attempt has been launched to stop it from shutting up shop entirely.

A group of locals is turning to the Asset of Community Value (ACV) register to make sure the Bay Horse cannot be sold from beneath their feet.

Next Monday will see York's city council leader Chris Steward decide whether to give the pub ACV status, making sure owners Enterprise Inns could not sell the pub to a private developer without first giving regulars the chance to buy it.

Murton man Matthew Bloch said: "I think everyone has their own motivation for wanting to save the pub. It is the only pub in Murton and it has been trading for at least 200 years."

He and his friend Andy Theyers have gathered 65 signatures for a petition to save the pub, first by getting it ACV status.

He said: "A lot of locals would miss it if it closed. Andy and I are incomers and we wanted to live in a village with a pub. To see it close so soon would be very disappointing.

"I moved to Murton in November from the South Bank area, and one of the appeals was the pub. Within four weeks we saw a for sale sign go up outside the pub."

Once on the register of assets of community value the community would be given a chance to buy the pub, and Matthew and Andy's plan now is to begin an ambitious fundraising appeal to gather the £500,000 to buy the pub and start running it as a Community Interest Company.

With no other community facilities in the village the pub performs an important function, Matthew added, and to see if close would leave Murton with no where for locals to meet and socialise. It has scope to become more a part of the community, he added, with space for a much-needed children's play area on a paddock behind the building.

A report will go to city council leader Chris Steward on Monday, February 22, recommending that the ACV listing is approved.

In their response to the ACV application, Enterprise Inns have said the pub is not unique in the area and has not been supported by the local community.