Residents save 700-year-old village pub

The move was made to protect the pub as it is currently without a tenant

A small village has come together to save a 700-year-old pub.

Residents in Oaksey, near Malmesbury, Wiltshire, have successfully registered the Wheatsheaf Inn as a community asset.

The pub has been struggling financially after numerous tenants over the past decade "encountered difficulties", despite being "well-used by locals".

Oaksey Parish Council said: "The Parish Council and villagers are concerned that as there is no tenant, someone may purchase the freehold and attempt to apply for change of use to residential, because of lack of commercial viability."

'Unique affection'

It continued: "The Parish Council are fully in favour of registering the Wheatsheaf as a community asset and would like to register a right to bid if the ownership became available."

Wiltshire Council has now informed them that their nomination was successful, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

Meanwhile, a farm in Pewsey, about seven miles south of Marlborough, has been the subject of a similar nomination.

Ball farm is on the outskirts of the village and comprises 37 acres of land with agricultural buildings.

A group of 24 local people submitted the nomination and described the fields as holding a "unique affection" in the village, having been used "freely for many decades".

Wiltshire Council is expected to make a decision on the nomination by the end of September.