DURING an afternoon drive around the North Yorkshire countryside recently, I couldn’t help but notice the number of pubs that have closed and are up for sale.

I blame the breweries for this, as it is they who set the prices behind the bar in most drinking establishments – and in some pubs the prices are far too expensive.

There are a handful of watering holes in Darlington town centre, such as The Tanners, Frankies, Hogarths and The Boot And Shoe, where myself and many others can enjoy a good pint of beer for around the £2 mark or even less.

If the good old British pub is facing a hurdle to remain open, then why don’t the breweries see sense and allow the landlords to sell affordable refreshments?

There are only two ways to get the punters back from the supermarkets – by bringing back decent prices and having Shirley Bassey classics available on pub jukeboxes.

Christopher Wardell, Darlington.