RESIDENTS of two villages are being urged to save their local pub following moves to turn it into two houses.

Campaigners say it would be a hammer blow to lose the Old Horn Pub in Spennithorne, near Leyburn.

Residents are being urged to look at launching a bid to turn it into a community pub with supporters in the neighbouring village of Harmby.

The current owners of the pub, who took over in 2019, have been having difficulties finding a buyer for the business, largely because of the impact of the pandemic on the hospitality industry.

They have now applied for planning permission to convert it into two residential units. The application is due to be considered by Richmondshire District Council in the next few weeks.

Richard Wortley, spokesman for the campaigners, said they had had a meeting to consider a response to the planning application and letters are now going out to households in the area to gauge support for the idea of a community buy out.

Similar schemes have already been established at the Green Dragon at Exelby in Bedale and at the George and Dragon at Hudswell near Richmond.

Supporters say the Old Horn’s owners have indicated their support for the principle of community ownership, and are actively involved in discussions with the residents about how best that might be achieved.

As a first step, an application is being made to register the Old Horn as an Asset of Community Value.

Mr Wortley added: “Pubs are an essential focal point for communities such as Harmby and Spennithorne. Together with the village school and the church, they are vital elements in community cohesion and identity. To lose the only pub in Spennithorne would be a hammer blow.”

An email address has been set up for residents – spennithorneandharmbyresidents@gmail.com.