Villagers have sprung into action in a bid to save their community pub.

The Salutation Inn, in Irthington, has recently been put up for sale but villagers – fearful it could be sold to a developer for housing – are looking into buying it themselves. It closed its doors in May 2015.

Their concerns are made worse after The Sportsman in Laversdale, their next nearest pub, was sold and planning permission submitted to turn it into homes.

The Irthington campaign began with a Facebook page, posters and questionnaires to residents and has rapidly grown from there.

Emma Skelton is among those on the pub’s new steering committee.

The mum-of-one said: “The village has quite a vibrant community, with lots of clubs within the parish and the church and school are really well supported.

“Everyone feels the pub sits at the heart of that.”

In recent years, the village shop has closed, getting rid of the Post Office, although services now run two mornings a week from the school.

“The pub in Laversdale is also closed,” Mrs Skelton, who lives in Irthington, added, “and I think everyone really feels the loss of both pubs.

“We don’t see people around as much, despite the fact we are a community where quite a lot goes on.”

With no guarantees a new owner will retain it as a pub – although the group has pledged not to stand in the way of anyone who wishes to buy it for that purpose – residents have united to ensure The Salutation Inn is not lose.

Mrs Skelton said: “We have taken the first step in applying to have The Salutation Inn registered as a community asset.

“This will give us time to raise the funds needed to buy the pub.

“If we are successful, it will mean there will be a pub in Irthington parish for as long as the parish wants one.

“It’s a long road between having an idea and seeing the pub reopen, and we will only be able to do it with the support of the community.

“However, given the initial enthusiasm for the idea, plus the level of fundraising that is achieved by the Irthington Country Games, social groups, school PTA and the church, there is every indication that this parish can achieve it.”

Inspiration has been taken from other successful pub co-operatives in the county, and one option under consideration is to look at whether it would be possible to run some kind of shop and Post Office services from the pub.

A public meeting will take place at Newtown Village Hall on Monday at 7pm. It is open to everyone.

Julian Ross, from The Old Crown at Heskett Newmarket and Dave Hollings, from The Dog, in Belmont, Lancashire and Co-operative and Mutual Solutions Ltd, will also be at the meeting.

For more information, email emmagreenhalgh@live.co.uk

  • A second Cumbrian village has also united to save its much-loved pub. The Stag Inn, at Crosby-on-Eden, has been shut since it was flooded in December but had already been up for sale for two years.

Locals have successfully applied to Carlisle City Council to temporarily halt any proceedings, and now need to raise about £150,000 to be successful.