A bid to save a well-known public house on the banks of the River Teifi at St Dogmaels is gathering momentum with locals and visitors signing a petition to keep the watering hole open.

Teifi Netpool Inn has been an integral part of the north Pembrokeshire village since the 19th century but is set to close after the pub was said to be running at a loss and a proposal put forward to switch to bed and breakfast only.

Landlady Kayla Christy, who purchased the pub in 2011 and rented out the business before returning to take over two years ago, has applied to Pembrokeshire County Council for planning consent for change of use.

When Seine fishing for salmon in the Teifi Estuary was a thriving industry the public house was a base for scores of netsmen who during the season assembled at the pub on a Saturday morning to receive payment.

A few years ago the Teifi was headquarters for St Dogmaels Football Club who it is understood could have purchased the licensed premises at favourable terms, but the club decided against it and in recent times have re-located to another village hostelry the White Hart.

The petition being circulated in the village and surrounding area states that the inn has served the community for more than 130 years and it would be a “very sad loss” if it were to close.

The petition continues “A village green and playground are situated close by, attracting locals and tourists with events taking place throughout the year and the pub is a central hub providing villagers with a place to eat and drink.

“We the undersigned citizens urge our leaders to act now to keep Teifi Netpool as a village pub.” concluded the petition.

Whilst conceding that anyone was entitled to oppose any planning application Ms Christy told the Tivy-Side “I have been running at a loss for a long time and you can’t sell a pub that is losing money.

“What can I do – I can’t sit here for another ten years and continue at a loss.

"If those signing the petition would call here once or twice a week then perhaps this situation would go away.

"I think it is a case of use it or lose it.”

She currently runs three B&Bs and plans to add a further four.

A source at the county council said the application would go before the planning committee in the near future and that sentiment would not be considered under planning rules.