MUMS and pub-goers are fighting two campaigns in one village to stop the closure of the local playgroup and public houses.

And they fear Hindley Green, already threatened with a new, huge housing estate plan will get even more houses on the two sites.

Mums of 71 children at The Hut playgroup on Leigh Road say they are struggling to find places for their youngsters after being told in the holidays that the group is to close.

The building owners - Hindley Green Christian Fellowship Trust - have offered the premises to the group organiser for £35,000.

"But the organiser can't afford that sort of money. The cash she gets from parents is only enough for the rent and to buy toys for the children," said a disappointed mum, Sam Poole, who had two children, Charlotte and Ashley, at The Hut.

"Charlotte really enjoyed it but now I have to find another playgroup for Ashley, and I can't," said Mrs Poole of Minehead Avenue.

She added: "We need some Good Samaritan to come along with the £35,000 to save this amenity."

And the delapidated Railway - known locally as 'The Rubber' - is to be demolished if brewers Allied Domecq get their way.

But a local resident told The Journal: "I know our local is not a fun pub and does not make as much profit, but then again as far as I know the brewery has not spent any money on the decor, structure and furnishings for at least 30 years."

Landlady Marjorie Dowdle refused to comment on the closure.

But the brewery spokesman told The Journal: "Left to deteriorate any further, the pub could pose a danger to the public.

"Existing trade is poor and the property has no realistic future as a pub.

"Our intention is to sell the property on and we have recently applied for planning permission which will allow the land to be developed for residential purposes."

But the local resident added: "If the brewery spent a little doing up the pub, it would attract more people and might make more profit. I know a pub is really made from the people who go in it, but it needs to attract them to start with.

"Then there's the bowling green, if the pub goes, how long before the green goes?"

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.