A GROUP of regulars have started a campaign to save the pub at the heart of their village.

Brewery Shepard Neame announced that The Oaklands Inn, on Notley Green, Great Notley, would close on Monday due to the financial struggles of the pub.

However Justin Ward, a retail store manager, resident of the green and longtime regular, stepped in with a group of friends to try and save their favourite meeting point.

Mr Ward said: "The landlord approached me one on one and said that the pub would be closing on Monday.

"Myself and another regular Phil talked about it and we just thought it does not seem right.

"The landlords have made big inroads into developing the pub and they know what they need to do here."

The group has applied to register the pub as an Asset of Community Value with Braintree Council, meaning that if it is sold in the future the community must be given a chance to come up with the cash to buy it.

Mr Ward said: "I think the pub means a lot to people in the village, more and more so recently.

"The pub has had numerous different breweries and tenants over the years of whom some may not have been proper publicans.

"With the place now I do believe it has got the best atmosphere for many years.

"With the previous mismanagement of the pub by both breweries and landlords it has gone through waves of having a good and bad reputation.

"Talking with the landlords now, their approach and the experience that they have, they are determined to make it successful.

"I appreciate from a business point of view why the brewery are closing the put but I do not feel the current landlords have had enough time yet."

The campaigners have the support of Great Notley Parish Council, who opposed a bid to change the use of the land to mixed in October.

An Asset of Community Value decision will be made within 8 weeks.

Shepherd Neame said closing the pub was not a decision made lightly but the business has not been economically viable for some time

A spokesman said: “We would be happy to receive representation from the local community with regard to the future of the Oaklands Inn.”