IT'S forward to the past for one of Durham's oldest pubs.

Mike Leonard, who has taken over the Dun Cow in Old Elvet, is spending more than £20,000 restoring the back bar to its former glory.

The main part of the building dates from the 16th Century, but much of the bar - a popular student haunt - is Victorian.

"The front room has remained untouched for years and we are trying to recreate that at the back," said Mike.

"We are just trying to restore it to what it was.

"We have stripped the walls of stone cladding and exposed the original fireplace. We're going to have an open fire - not a real one, a stove with an electric twinkle.

"We have bared the floor at the bar end and we are using the original floorboards.

"The back bar hasn't been touched since the 1970s and is looking well worn.''

The work is due to be completed by next Friday lunchtime.

Mike, 51, took over the lease of the pub with wife Audrey in May, having worked for the former County Durham Ambulance Service for 17 years.

"I was communications manager in charge of the control room but I decided to take early retirement when the service merged with Northumbria.

"Audrey and I have always wanted to go into business together.

"We hope the improvements will be popular with existing customers and new ones.

"There are still people who want a traditional English pub and we'll keep the Dun Cow that way.''

The Leonards have taken over from Alan Whitfield who spent eight years at the pub. His predecessor Tommy Wilson pulled the pints for 33 years