COMMUNITY-owned owned pubs are spreading Christmas cheer across the region by hosting events aimed at alleviating isolation and loneliness and offering a safe haven for those who need it.

Communities which have united to save their local pubs from closure are increasingly showing the benefits of owning and running it themselves, said national charity the Plunkett Foundation.

Community pubs have been hosting lunches, choir concerts and donating food to the homeless during the month of December.

Hannah Barrett, senior project manager at Plunkett, said that as the number of community pubs grows so too do the opportunities to tackle loneliness.

She added: “Every Christmas community pubs show they have a great heart and sense of responsibility to the people living in the surrounding area. Whether that is a rural area or an urban one. Loneliness and isolation exists throughout our society but community pubs can help fight these problems. They really go out of their way this time of year.”

Becci Baker, landlady of the Exelby Green Dragon, near Bedale, took over with husband Tom to run the new community-owned pub in December last year.

She said the pub had a wealth of activity groups on throughout the year, but at Christmas there was a further push to involve everyone.

She said: "We have a gardening club, ladies' group called The Dragons, art club, book club – something for just about everyone.

"We also have a kind of off-shoot of the ladies' club which meet every Tuesday. We started it in the months before the Tour de Yorkshire came through in May as we were making decorations for the village and it carried on from there. Lots of people don't like coming out after dark, so we have the pub open during the day too so groups can use us as a meeting place.

"This year we re-established the tradition of a carol singing night, which was a lovely, festive event, and brought the whole community together."

The George and Dragon in Hudswell, another community-owned pub, run by landlord Stuart Miller, similarly sees groups including quoits, music and quiz nights.

It also has an allotment, village shop and library.