A VILLAGE pub has been given special community asset status.

Ye Olde Cherry Tree pub in Little Oakley will be registered as an asset of community value after being nominated by Tendring CAMRA, the campaign for real ale.

The building trades as a pub but holds regular fundraising events, hosts After Shoot meals and meetings, a ladies’ lunch, an annual beer festival and vintage tea party as well as a fayre at Christmas and Easter.

The pub also holds regular quiz nights and organises local litter picks as well as a charity car wash in its car park.

There is live music promoting local bands as well as darts and pool teams competing in local leagues.

The move means that should the site be put up for sale the local community would have an opportunity to try to buy it and secure its continued use as a pub.

Lynda McWilliams, Tendring Council's cabinet member for wellbeing said  the Council had seen a number of successes with this initiative.

“Too many public houses are lost from the community when sold and this is one means of ensuring it can be given the opportunity to look to purchase them,” she added.

“There have been a number occasions when the community has taken over the running of the facility and made a real good go of it.”