RESIDENTS in Blackrod say they are "heartbroken" that the Red Lion pub could be demolished to make way for five new homes.

The historic pub, in Church Street, is thought to date back to at least 1841, but a meeting of Blackrod Town Council heard that the landlord plans to sell the pub in order to create the development.

One resident said the pub should have been given listed status "a long time ago", while another said the pub was "part of our history" and that it would be "dreadful" to lose it.

Now, regulars at the pub have launched a campaign to save the pub from being pulled down.

Dave Flatters, one of the campaigners, said: "The pub is used as a meeting place for local sports club, the golf society and motorcycle clubs. It is a social club.

"And what for? For somebody who doesn't live in the village to build houses for personal gain? It is a profitable pub, it is not losing money."

Plans submitted on behalf of the developers, Crompton Enterprises Ltd, state that the site will create five three bedroom family homes, and claim that the loss of the pub will have "no adverse impacts" on residents.

The report also states that the pub has been trading at a loss for several years, which has been affected by the "overall downward trend" related to pubs.

However, councillors were unanimously opposed to the development after it was put to a vote at Monday night's meeting, which was also attended by about a dozen residents.

Cllr Stephen Laycock argued that there were several "legitimate planning reasons" which could be used to oppose the scheme.

He said: "For nearly 200 years, this pub has been a very predominant part of the street scene, and features in many of the books telling the history of Blackrod as a town, and perhaps it is more than just a pub.

"It is an important part of the character of the town."

The meeting told that there was nothing to stop developers bulldozing the site, as it is not offered the protection of being a listed building or lying within a conservation area.

But one angle residents and campaigners are considering is attempting to list the pub as a community asset, which has been done in other parts of the country when a pub has bene put up for sale or has closed.