REAL ale campaigners are objecting to plans to close a pub on the outskirts of Darlington.

The Darlington branch of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) is opposing proposals to change The Raby Hunt pub into private accommodation.

Members of the campaign say the pub, which is situated in the village of Summerhouse, near Darlington, is one of the "finest remaining traditional country pubs in Darlington borough."

They are urging Darlington Borough Council to resist the application until all possible means of keeping it open have been explored.

Mike Allison, landlord of The Raby Hunt, wants to convert the pub, which was built in the early 1830s, into living accommodation because it is struggling to survive financially.

He says trade has been going down for several years, and one of the main reasons is that people are now drinking at home more regularly. As part of its objection, Darlington Camra has submitted a number of reasons why the pub should not be closed. They include:

l The Raby Hunt is a much-respected pub, which has been carefully run by its present owners for 24 years, with little change in its trading style during much of that time.

l It has strong assets in terms of its reputation, character, location, condition and status as a freehouse.

l There is every chance that the pub would become healthily profitable under new owners, bringing a fresh impetus to the business.

l The only true test of viability is for the pub to be placed on the licensed property market, as a going concern over a reasonable period of time, and at a fair asking price.

Ian Jackson, chairman of Darlington Camra, said: "Camra has no wish to keep open businesses which are demonstrably unviable, and we would not oppose the closure of The Raby Hunt in those circumstances.

"But where there appears to be a prospect of viability, closure should be the last option, not the first.

"The Raby Hunt should not be allowed to close after 170 years of serving Summerhouse and the Darlington area without a market test of its viability."

The planning application is expected to be discussed by councillors shortly.