Hillesley villagers keen to buy pub

Locals in the village of Hillesley are looking to raise sufficient funds to purchase the area's only pub after it was put on the market last autumn.

Around £400,000 needs to be found to buy The Fleece, which was put up for sale last year following the administration of its owners, which also saw another 36 pubs around the country face closure.

According to reports from the local Gazette, a group of residents quickly formed a committee to try and save their pub, but they are still short of funds to do so. So far 70 people have pledged money to buy shares in the venture, but more is needed cover the costs of the buying, stocking and staffing the pub.

Nigel Vaughan, spokesman for the group, told the paper: “We have progressed pretty well but we are still looking for a little bit more financial support.

“We urgently need some more investors and we are reaching out to anyone who would like to help us save this traditional English village pub.”

He added that the group is in discussions with the sellers and is keen to buy the pub by the end of the month in order to hold a party for the Diamond Jubilee.