VILLAGERS have mounted a "save our pub" campaign amid fears for its future.

Residents said since a change of ownership last December far fewer people are using The Crown Inn, at Grewelthorpe, near Ripon.

And they are so worried about the viability of their only pub they have launched a campaign to save it.

Within hours of a leaflet being sent out to Grewelthorpe's 300-plus residents, almost 50 people had signed a protest petition calling for action to revive the pub's fortunes.

The petition is being sent to bosses at Jennings Bros plc, the Cockermouth-based brewery, in Cumbria, which took over The Crown Inn last December.

Petition organiser Val Dobson said: "We are getting excellent support for the campaign because people are dismayed about what is happening. So many people have gone elsewhere. We have tried to get things going but sometimes there have been just a couple of people in there."

The Crown is Grewelthorpe's only pub after the neighbouring Hackfall was turned into homes several years ago.

A spokesman for Jennings Bros plc said: "The company is aware of residents' concerns and is commited to working with the licensee to restore The Crown Inn to its original place at the heart of the community."