VILLAGERS in St Dogmaels are rallying round in an attempt to save their local pub from closing.

The White Hart Inn is set to call last orders in a few weeks’ time but now a public meeting has been called to discuss a community shares purchase scheme.

It will take place at the Memorial Hall on Wednesday, March 13 at 7pm and all those with an interest in keeping open the pub are invited to attend.

Cris Tomos of Pembrokeshire Local Action Network for Enterprise and Development (PLANED) will give examples of how other pubs and community assets have been bought by local communities wishing to retain services in their villages.

He was involved in the highly successful campaign to save from closure the iconic Tafarn Sinc at Rosebush and turn it into a thriving community-run asset and will fully explain how a pioneer share offer can be set up to buy the White Hart.

Mr Tomos also helped locals to try to buy the Boncath Inn, though that scheme never succeeded after failing to agree a price with the owner.

County councillor Mike James will be asking local people to form a committee to look at what interest there is in purchasing the pub as a community-run enterprise.

“We are looking to try to do what they did at Tafarn Sinc but the first thing we have to establish is if the interest and the will is there,” said Cllr James.

“Pubs have such an important role to play at the heart of any local community.”

The Netpool Inn closed last year and the closure of the White Hart would leave only the Ferry Inn remaining in the village.