ALONG with the school, church and post office, a major keystone of every community is the local pub.

And when one disappears, social life diminishes, the vicinity's vibrancy reduces, people move away and decline follows.

It's a syndrome that has hit rural areas for years. But now, it seems, it's the turn of the towns. For pity the folk of an urban East Lancashire neighbourhood who, having been told their local church is to be demolished, now find that their only local may be sold off and turned into houses.

The Hyndburn pub in Blackburn Road, Accrington, is the only one there. And if it shuts, the nearest pubs will be in the town centre where the trade caters mainly for the young crowd and are too far away for older folk.

But it's not just a drinking spot that is under threat. The Hyndburn is a community meeting venue and an important part of the area's social 'glue' where some have been regulars for 40 years.

The landlord and customers are determined to fight for it to be saved and are seeking support from MP Greg Pope and local councillors.

Good luck to them. For whatever commercial pressures bring about this threat, some value, surely, needs to be put on the health of their community, the way of life that they enjoy and how much their friendly local preserves and contributes to it.