A PUB has suddenly been closed down to the shock of its regulars.

The Starkie Arms, in Tonge Moor Road, ceased trading on Wednesday after officials from the brewery visited the premises and shut it down.

The pub, a favourite among sports fans due to its televising of football, rugby and cricket, is now boarded up and unoccupied.

Former landlady Julie Crook told her friends and followers on Facebook that officials from brewery Weston Castle had turned up on the morning of May 31 and thrown her out.

Posting on the social media site she said: “Pub being borded up, no joke, machines have gone, pool table the lot. No more Starkie. Sorry guys I tried just wasn’t good enough.”

Further comments posted by Ms Crook suggested financial problems were behind the closure of the local.

She added: “Not making enough so they say woke me up at 9 to have me out x.”

And she said the decision to close the pub had left her without a home and a job.

She said: “(It) was a job and and an income now I have neither, so thanks for those supporting me.”

And she added: “I still got a 16 yr old that needs feeding and putting a roof over.”

Mrs Crooks friends posted messages sympathising with her plight.

Gemma Connolly wrote: “Bit unfair not giving u any notice x.”

Bolton Council confirmed the closure was not a result of a licensing issue it was dealing with.

Weston Castle refused to comment.