A VILLAGE'S one remaining pub could be saved from closure after the owner agreed to sell it to a resident.

Villagers had hoped to stage a community buy-out of the Countryman Inn, at Hunton, but it proved legally too complex.

Owner Mike Kirby was granted planning permission to turn the pub into a house in February 2001, when the village had a second pub, the New Inn.

The New Inn has since closed and villagers feared they would be left without a pub if Mr Kirby carried out the conversion.

He submitted a second application, to convert an outbuilding, currently partly used as the pub cellar, into a house. Residents objected, because they thought this would hasten the closure.

Planners said conversion of the outbuilding could go ahead only after the pub closed, so occupants of the new house would not be disturbed by noise and traffic from the inn.

A decision on the latest application was deferred last month to allow officers to investigate breaches of planning conditions. It was approved by the committee on Tuesday.

The delay also allowed local resident Neil Gardener to continue negotiations to buy the Countryman.

A letter from Mr Gardener, contained in a report to Richmondshire District Council environment and planning committee, confirmed a sale had been agreed subject to contract. It is understood the purchase depends on the sale of Mr Gardener's house in the village.

Mr Gardener said he intended to continue running the premises as a pub and agreed to removal of the condition relating to the outhouse conversion.

Jane Huffadine, who was involved in the campaign to keep the pub open, welcomed the news. "It is very good news for the whole village and Mr Gardener seems very enthusiastic about running the pub," she said.