RESIDENTS in Holford won a partial victory this week when the owners of the Plough Inn withdrew their planning application to turn the hostelry into a home.

Steve and Mac Cockburn have also dropped their outstanding appeal against West Somerset District Council's rejection of plans to turn the pub into a small bar and combine residential units.

Villagers, who formed the Save the Plough Inn Campaign, were said to be relieved at the Cockburns' decision and are going ahead with plans for a community buy-out.

Pledges of more than £100,000 have been received to save the 400-year-old inn after it was closed in July 2001. A commercial lender is also said to be "very interested" in helping with the buy-out.

The Cockburns have always argued that trade was badly hit by the foot and mouth crisis and they were left with no other option than to close and redevelop the property.

The planning application had been to turn the skittle alley and part of the car park into a home.

But fed-up residents have taken a firm stand and decided to fight the application, claiming that the pub was the last public amenity left in the village.

Within the last five years, Holford has lost the village shop, post office, tea room and last year the garage shut down too. All the community has left is the church and village hall.

The campaign's publicity officer Mo Young said the residents breathed a sigh of relief when they learned of the Cockburns' withdrawals.

"We are pleased with the announcement and very very anxious to see the pub back open. Everyone from the oldest to the youngest wants to see the Plough back up and running because the older residents have always known it as a pub.

"We have managed to raise over £100,000 and a commercial lender is also very interested in the scheme."

Locals plan to set up a private company and employ a professional landlord to oversee the running of the pub.

The campaigners include a chartered accountant, a business advisor, two retired managing directors and a former businessman who is also Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Somerset and a JP.

Mrs Young added: "The villagers want the pub up and running again for the benefit of the local community and hope that it will also once more become a welcome hostelry for people outside the locality.

"The Plough Inn has been a hostelry for over 400 years and has been a thriving pub for locals in the past."