A PUB company has more than 800 of its premises up for sale to the highest bidder, a report has revealed.

Punch Taverns, which owns three businesses in York and its surrounding villages, has released their Preliminary Results showing plans to dispose of 884 venues, and generate £227million.

The Punch-run pubs in York include The Duke of York Inn, on the A166, Monroes in Gillygate and The Grey Horse in Elvington, but it is not known if they are for sale.

The company plans to redevelop Monroes to feature a ground floor bar offering food, with three floors of hostel accommodation.

Stopping the sale of pubs to the highest bidder without any consultation with residents is the main focus of The Press' Be Vocal For Your Local campaign.

At the moment, a pub company can secure a deal with an organisation looking to convert a premises without applying for planning permission first.

The campaign calls on City of York Council to adapt planning laws so an application must be submitted.

A spokeswoman for Punch Taverns said it has a "non-core" estate of 884 pubs which it hopes to maximise the short-term gains on prior to the pubs being marketed for sale.

She said: "Our pubs are marketed for sale on the open market and we consider offers from all interested parties.

"Where we do sell properties, nine out of 10 remain as pubs and we have worked with a number of community groups and local people who have bought pubs and will continue to do so."

Nick Love, from York's Campaign for Real Ale, said: "If you’re operating a successful business model with thriving pubs – why would you want to sell them, and in such vast numbers?

"Many pubs that are unsuccessful under Punch’s flawed business model could be successful if they were free of the beer tie with premiums of up to 90 per cent on free market beer prices plus prohibitive rents."