CAMPAIGNERS trying to save the last pub in a village are celebrating after plans to transform it into a house were knocked back for the second time.

The Duke of York closed last year leaving the village of Grindleton without a pub, leaving the village hall as the only communal place.

Villagers set up Grindleton Community Pub Ltd, aiming to turn the hostelry into a community pub and cafe.

In March, Judith Douglas Town Planning Limited submitted plans on behalf of an applicant to change the use of the pub into a residential property.

But councillors on Ribble Valley Planning Committee voted unaminously to reject an application on Thursday night.

Chris Grainger of the community pub group, said: "We are happy that the application was not approved.

"The good point was that one of the councillors Bridgett Hilton who represents West Bradford spoke backing us up and then also West Bradford Parish Council supported us.

"One of the other councillors also said they live near The Dog at Belthorn which opened as a community pub and talked about how successful that had been and they said that it was in the centre of the village and was needed.

"One of the owners points was that it was not commercially viable as a pub but we think it is and have put money on the table to show we are committed.

"Cllr Hilton said she remember it being open as a successful until recently she said how it is viable and the rates were £40k and you don't have that unless it is recent history and it was accepted by the councillors that it is viable. It is good to put our views across at the meeting and council expressed their support verbally when they saw what we want to do and it was good to see them put it to the vote."

Mr Grainger added that they needed to meet with the owner to discuss the future of the site.

"The owner has applied twice for change of use and it has been successful.

"They had applied for little changes to the building this time and even that did not go through so we need to have a discussion with them about what is happening next.

"We have given the owner a generous offer slightly more than what it was bought for.

"It is up to them but it could risk that it remains a horrible derelict building in the middle of the village

"We want to get in there as soon as possible especially before winter as there is a hole in the roof and we don't want to get more water damage."