A LANDLADY whose family has run a village pub for nearly 50 years faced the bailiffs yesterday following a disagreement with her brewery.

Sheila Suddick, landlady of the Crown and Crossed Swords in Shotley Bridge, County Durham, said she had been terrified by the ordeal.

"It has been an absolute nightmare," she said.

"I am terrified half out of my wits."

Alan Tuff, of Newcastle collection agency Active Legal Services, turned up at the pub yesterday morning with a team of bailiffs. He had a warrant for about £5,000 and Walking Possession - the right to enter a property and take goods to the value owed.

The men were told to stand down after The Northern Echo arrived at the pub with a photographer.

Ms Suddick said she cannot afford to pay the rent demanded by Scottish and Newcastle Pub Enterprises, and has applied for an independent review of the amount.

She claimed: "The rent has doubled since 1995 and I cannot afford to pay it. I have asked for a valuer to come and assess my case."

If the independent arbitrator finds Ms Suddick has been overcharged rent, he has the power to award her a back payment, which, she says, could total £150,000.

A spokeswoman for Scottish and Newcastle said: "Where pubs are experiencing difficulties, rent agreements can be reviewed and support given - provided the lessee cooperates.

"In this case, the lessee has fallen behind on rental payments and refused to meet with our operations team, despite attempts to arrange meetings to help her overcome any financial difficulties.

"However, the lessee has now offered us a partial payment, which we have accepted, and has agreed to meet with us to discuss how we can help her."