Farmer saves local pub from chop

A pub regular has bought his 18th Century local after he and other drinkers launched a campaign to stop it from being converted into houses.

The Powis Arms in Pool Quay, near Welshpool, Powys, seemed doomed when it closed following the death of the former landlord in August 2006.

But farmer Dave Jones and his wife Deryn stepped in and bought the pub, which has since been renovated.

Regulars started a petition and had support from local MP Lembit Opik.

Mrs Jones now runs the pub during the day, while her husband helps behind the bar in the evenings following a day's farming.

'Great news'

"Dave's family have farmed next door to the pub since the 1800s and Dave always drank at the pub," she said.

"He was part of the campaign to save it, but one day he asked me if we could make a go of running it and it all went from there."

Since the pub reopened Mrs Jones said business had been "better than anticipated".