RESIDENTS in a Wensleydale village are urging planning officials to save one of their pubs from closure.

An application by the owners of the King's Arms in Redmire to change the pub into a private dwelling has outraged many villagers.

Objections to the proposal include a 243-signature petition and individual letters - one from as far away as Peterborough from a regular visitor to the village.

The parish council also says it is "vehemently opposed" to the plan.

The objectors say the loss of the pub would be a major blow to Redmire and its economy, with people being forced to go to other pubs in the area. The village has one other pub, the Bolton Arms, but this is regarded as too small to cater for the number of locals and visitors, especially during the busy summer season. They also refer to the historical interest of the King's Arms.

There has been a pub on the site for more than 150 years and it has been used for the filming of All Creatures Great and Small and was used for a live Armistice Day broadcast by the BBC.

Despite the objections, council officers expect to recommend approval of the application at Richmondshire planning committee meeting on Tuesday.

In a letter to the planning department, one of the objectors, David Shields, said: "The potential closure of the pub is a travesty and words cannot express the anger that is felt."

He added: "The village appears to becoming a ghost village for the convenience of retired people wishing to escape to the country.

"There is very little to attract young people into the village and the closure of the pub will do nothing to help this.

"We have made contact with our local MP, such is the feeling of anger caused by this application."