Regulars may buy their local

The Save the Lynton Tavern Association met yesterday afternoon to discuss their campaign to save the pub in Lynton Avenue from closure.

Owners Punch Taverns have agreed to keep the pub open for a further two weeks.

More than 700 people have signed the association's petition to keep the pub open.

The association hopes that a pub company or individual will come forward to buy it and keep it open.

Spokesman Bob Johnson said if that failed they would explore buying the pub and opening it as a "community pub".

"This option would involve people being prepared to put in a lot of money," he said.

The association also agreed to offer to work with the Exclusive Brethren, who are in advanced negotiations to buy the pub with Punch Taverns, to try and find them an alternative site in Weeping Cross for a meeting place.

Mr Johnson added that they had had talks with Punch on Friday.

"It was a very positive meeting. They told us they have given a two-week stay of execution if we can come up with a viable option.

"No date for closure has been confirmed. The staff at the pub have a meeting with their area manager on August 19," he said.

Mr Johnson said the association would be approaching breweries and pub companies in the hope of finding an alternative buyer.

"We understand the pub is making a profit, but it is not big enough for Punch to want to keep it on," he added.

Father Patrick Broun from St Anne's RC Church attended yesterday's meeting expressing concern about the loss of the pub as an amenity for the company and

the car park, which is used by his congregation when attending services.

Staff at the pub have been told it is to shut around the end of August.

The impending closure has also alarmed residents because the 130-space car park at the two-storey pub, which was built in 1957, is used by people visiting the estate's shops and doctor's surgery.

The pub has been available for lease for an annual rent of £50,000 since May.