CAMPAIGNERS fighting to save their pub have pledged to continue their plight despite running into a "shocking" snag.

Villagers in Sutton Courtenay have united to try to fend off developers that want to turn The Plough into two houses.

But they have hit a stumbling block after a council dismissed their hopes to buy it because it was "not commercially viable".

Vale of White Horse District Council last week rejected an application to make the pub an 'asset of community value', meaning residents would have been given six months to come up with funds to buy the building themselves should it be put up for sale.

Lesley Tyler, who set up Friends of the Plough campaign group, was told last week it was not a "realistic" option.

The 51-year-old Bradstock Way resident said: "It was a complete and utter shock, we honestly believed we would get it granted. It was disappointing that our council isn't looking after our village.

"All we need is a new landlord and licence. Their reasons seem very wishy-washy to me. We are not going to let it stop us, we want answers. We are not going to let this one be bulldozed down."

The pub closed in June after the landlord announced plans to retire, and is currently the subject of an application by owner Hawthorn Leisure to transform it into four-bedroom and two-bedroom houses with parking.

Natalie Ellis, spokeswoman for Vale of White Horse District Council, said: "The council does not consider that the pub meets the legal test in relation to future community value. The evidence is that the pub is poorly equipped and not commercially viable.

"Contracts have been exchanged for the sale of the pub and the new owner intends to redevelop it for residential use. There is therefore no realistic prospect of the building being put to any use with community benefit in the next five years."

Mrs Tyler said she and others, including some of the 300 people who have signed a petition to save the pub, would battle against the local authority's decision.

The darts player said: "We can make an official complaint to the council, which we will do once we know their full reasons, and secondly we could take it to a judicial review. I am quite prepared to do that. We feel it's nonsense what they've said.

"It's the only pub in the village where you can participate in games – there is a pool team, ladies darts team, Aunt Sally and fundraising. At the moment people in the village are missing it so much."

She had hoped to secure the community asset status and raise £500,000 to buy the building, plus money to renovate it.

In a previous statement Hawthorn Leisure said it had given "great consideration" to its bid to change the use of the pub and had "evaluated all options to turn the pub into a profitable business".

The district council is due to decide on the application by September 8.