LOSING local pubs is like losing a bit of history.

They are places that have often been there for decades, not just as landmarks, but as the focal point for many local communities.

Pubs are places -- as the soaps have so cannily recognised -- where local people gather, where friendships are forged and information exchanged. They are where local life is reflected.

Cheap booze is blamed for their demise and, of course, times and trends move on. But, take away your local and you do lose a special part of your area.