A VILLAGE pub that opened 170 years ago has been saved from closure.

The owners of the Raby Hunt Inn at Summerhouses, Mike and Barbara Allison, had applied to Darlington Borough Council to convert the pub into two houses.

The plans were met with strong opposition from residents in the village who felt that its closure would have a detrimental affect on community life.

The Darlington Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale also objected to the proposals on the same ground.

CAMRA members described the pub as the finest remaining traditional country pub in the Darlington borough.

At a planning meeting at Darlington Borough Council local resident David Pallister said: "I have lived in Summerhouses for 43 years. The Raby Hunt is not just a pub it is the hub of Summerhouses and surrounding villages. It is the heart of the village."

The owners of the inn said that the pub was no longer financially viable and despite it being on the market for ten months, and the asking price reduced, they were unable to sell it.

Owner Michael Ellison said: "We find ourselves in a desperate situation. Summerhouse has a population of 60.

"People in our village give us as much custom as they can but there's not enough people.

"We have been part of our community for 25 years. Our customers are our friends. We anticipated running it until we retired but we must look for a job with an adequate wage for the next 25 years."

The council received 17 letters of objection to the proposals and Summerhouse Parish Meeting also opposed the closure.

Councillors voted unanimously to refuse the planning application.

Councillor Gerald Lee said: "We have an incredible amount of sympathy for the owners who say it is no longer viable. The villagers are quite rightly very keen to maintain the pub for social reasons. I would urge the villagers if you don't support this guy he will go under. They have now got to rally around and support the pub otherwise it will close."