Villagers are raising a glass after coming up with £380,000 to help bring a pub back into use.

The Three Horshoes Pub in Helions Bumpstead is set to become the latest community run public house after Community Benefit Society secured enough money to purchase the historic building.

The society has been running a campaign to purchase the pub ever since it closed its doors in 2014, and has seen more than 100 residents in Helions Bumpstead make donations towards buying it.

Such has been the support for the campaign, the Community Benefit Society say they have also received donations from across the world, with people in Scandanavia, Dubai and even Australia purchasing shares.

Secretary Alison Meldrum said: “Community ownership will preserve the pub as the focal point at the heart of the village.

“The Three Horseshoes occupies an important place in the history of the village and we want it to be even more important in the future.

“When it reopens the revitalised Three Horseshoes will become more than a pub, providing a community hub for patrons of all ages and combatting social isolation.

“Support for the purchase has been overwhelming and through the purchase of community shares, more than 100 households have made a commitment to the future of our village.”

Public donations has helped raise £280,000 for the campaign, with the remaining £100,000 coming courtesy of a grant from the Plunkett Foundation.

The Three Horseshoes is believed to have been built as a terrace of three cottages back in the 19th century before being used as a watering hole.

With the purchase of the pub set to go through in the coming weeks, the Community Benefit Society is now appealing for prospective tenants to come forward to run the business and lead it into the future.

A spokesman added: “The Management Committee of the Three Horseshoes will appoint a tenant who will be free to develop the business in tandem with the community in a spirit of mutual support.”

Anyone interested should visit helionscommunitypub.co.uk.