LOCALS in a Great Harwood pub will be toasting their success after they successfully gained a listed tag for their historic drinking house.

As revealed in the Citizen last month, regulars at the Victoria Hotel, on St John Street, feared their pub could be shut down after brewers Scottish and Newcastle put it up for sale at a price believed to cover only the cost of the land.

With its unique interior, which includes original tiles, etched glasswork and woodwork, drinkers felt it would be a travesty if the pub - which has remained largely unchanged for more than 50 years - was altered inside, or, at worst knocked down. After consulting the local branch of the Campaign for Real Ale, customers decided to launch a campaign to get the pub - which dates back to 1905 - listed. Now, after weeks of waiting, landlady June Lloyd has finally heard both the interior and exterior of the pub are to be listed, and she says staff and regulars alike are delighted.

June said: "A lot of hard work has been put in by locals and we are very grateful.

"This has always been and still is a local pub and the regulars have made sure it will remain the same."

But the celebrations, scheduled for Sunday, December 7, could be overshadowed by the fact the new owner isn't yet known.

June, one of several bidders for the historic pub, added: "We had to have our final bids in more than four weeks ago, and we were told we'd know the result within 7 days.

"It's just a case of waiting now."

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