COMMUNITY pubs are facing extinction because of the rise of theme and chain pubs in the town centre, a leading landlord has warned.

Mike Igoe, secretary of the Burnley Licensed Victualler's Association says unless something is done to halt the rise of pubs offering cheap drinks in the town centre pubs in the rest of town will die out.

Mr Igoe, landlord of the Forester's Arms, Todmorden Road, says he knows of at least nine pubs facing closure because they cannot compete with big breweries.

The criticisms follows the news that a new town centre pub is set to open its doors later this month in Safeway House, next to Burnley bus station.

The family pub, which will create 25 full and part-time jobs, will take over a 6,500 sq ft area of the ground floor of the five-storey property. The Litten Tree, run by Surrey Free Inns, will form part of a redevelopment of the building along with shops and offices.

Mr Igoe said: "I challenge the council to take a walk with me in the streets around Turf Moor and see how many pubs are closed during the day because they simply cannot afford to compete with the town centre.

"Pubs which are the heart of their communities are dying out and simply won't exist in about five years if nothing is done.

Town centre manager Lisa Durkin said: "It is increasingly difficult for peripheral landlords and licensees to compete but they have to adapt and change their product or service to meet local needs and create a niche for themselves to keep customers using them."