A group of people have joined forces to save a closed pub at Whittlesey from being turned into housing.

The Straw Bear is up for sale after closing in February, but now a community group of 21 people want to make sure it stays as a pub by asking it to be listed as an asset of community value.

If agreed the pub will go into Fenland District Council’s asset list for five years.

Leading the pub plea is Simon Brand, who lives in Drybread Road, the same road as the pub.

He said: “We feel it would be a shame for the pub to be lost to housing. We believe that the Straw Bear should remain as a public house.

“There are no other pubs in the area, the nearest pub is approximately 20 minutes walk away.

“The same has happened to other pubs in the town such as the Old Crown, Morton Fork, and Oatsheaf.

“Everyone - 21 people - who has signed up to support the group lives locally and are registered as local electors.

“There is a lot of housing nearby therefore a good catchment area for customers to use the pub.”

He said that although it had been closed since February the previous tenants had built up a sizeable clientele.

“There was a wide variety of real ales and other drinks. There were pool, darts, dominoes teams based at the pub.

“It can be used as a meeting place for local groups also for breakfast and coffee mornings.”

Campaigners have set up an un-incorporated group and have registered their pub plea under a community right to bid agreement which is due to be discussed at a meeting of Fenland’s cabinet on Thursday 17.

The pub’s registered owners are Gary Munns, Julie Jean Muns and Jo Ann Newson.