A VILLAGE pub that opened 170 years ago has been saved from closure for the time being.

Mike and Barbara Allison, owners of the Raby Hunt Inn, at Summerhouse, had applied to Darlington Borough Council to convert the pub into two houses.

The plans met with strong opposition from villagers, who felt that its closure would have a detrimental affect on the community.

The Darlington branch of the Campaign for Real Ale also objected to the proposals, describing the pub as the finest remaining traditional country pub in the borough.

At a Darlington Borough Council planning meeting, villager David Pallister said: "I have lived in Summerhouse for 43 years. The Raby Hunt is not just a pub, it is the hub of Summerhouse and surrounding villages. It is the heart of the village."

The owners of the inn said that the pub was no longer financially viable and, despite it being on the market for ten months and the asking price being reduced, they were unable to sell it.

Owner Michael Ellison said: "We find ourselves in a desperate situation. Summerhouse has a population of 60.

"People in our village give us as much custom as they can, but there are not enough people.

"We have been part of our community for 25 years. Our customers are our friends. We anticipated running it until we retired, but we must look for a job with an adequate wage for the next 25 years."

The council received 17 letters of objection to the proposals and Summerhouse Parish Meeting also opposed the closure.

Councillors voted unanimously to reject the scheme.

Councillor Gerald Lee said: "We have an incredible amount of sympathy for the owners, who say it is no longer viable. The villagers are quite rightly very keen to maintain the pub for social reasons.

"I would urge the villagers if you don't support this guy he will go under. They have now got to rally around and support the pub, otherwise it will close.