THE former landlord of a Blackburn pub claims super-markets selling cheap booze were the driving force behind a raft of pub closures.

Peter Shaw was licensee at the Fox and Grapes, Preston New Road, until he left two years ago. The pub has now been taken over by Sandra Mayer.

Mr Shaw said that despite opening the Fox and Grapes for more than 50 hours a week and running it as a bed and breakfast, constant under-cutting of prices by the supermarkets was demoralising.

Mr Shaw, who now manages a pub in Great Harwood, said: "Supermarkets are killing the trade in this country and are the reason binge drinking is such a problem, because youngsters can get their hands on cheap booze."