ONE of the North-East's finest real-ale pubs that was under threat from closure six months ago has won an award.

The tiny Quaker bar, in Darlington's Mechanics Yard, run by Steve Metcalfe and Lynda Harland, was due to close in October when the owner, the Tadcaster Pub Company, decided it was no longer viable.

But Darlington's Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) group reacted to the proposed closure with anger, after it had voted it pub of the year in the town for three out of four years.

Now the customer has been proved right as the bar has again won the local Camra Pub of the Year title.

Mr Metcalfe said: "Since October, the company has given us more of a free rein and things are going much, much better, both in the pub and the caf upstairs.

"We've now got a wider range of real ales, we have ten now, instead of the six we had then, including our own lager, all from small independent breweries.

"We're over the moon with the award, it's proved we were right and the pub is going from strength to strength."

The couple have also introduced a full menu for the caf above the bar and say it is also doing a roaring trade. They plan to celebrate the honour and their second anniversary at the pub on May 30 with a real-ale festival and party, when they will also be presented with their award.