A NORTH Yorkshire man has been hailed a hero after saving his village pub from extinction.

Martin Burgess has won an army of fans at Sutton-on-the-Forest after buying the Rose and Crown pub, before it could be turned into housing.

The 57-year-old property developer, who has lived in the village for 23 years, is restoring the pub to its former glory as a traditional country alehouse.

Its previous owners had turned it into an upmarket restaurant famed nationally for its food.

Mr Burgess said they had completely modernised the interior - even replacing the sacred bar, which villagers enjoyed propping up for a pint and a chat.

"We've lost the post office, we're losing the garage but we're keeping the pub," he told the Evening Press.

"I've tried to bring back the character of a traditional local. I've lived in the village for 23 years and the Rose and Crown went through various different owners before it became a restaurant.

"Unfortunately, though the food was great, it lost that unique atmosphere of the local pub."

Mr Burgess has refitted an old-style bar and traditional wood to the premises and re-introduced real ale such as Black Sheep and Timothy Taylor's.

His friend and former landlord of The New Inn at Huby, Derek Godden, has been temporarily coaxed out of retirement to oversee the transition.

"We hope it will mean a great deal to the village," said Mr Godden, whose step-daughter, Kathryn Stickney, will manage the pub along with Paul Casterton.

Mr Burgess said he had been besieged by villagers wanting to thank him for saving the pub.

"I was walking the dog last night and people came up to me to thank me," he said. "They can't wait for it to open."

The Rose and Crown, which will still serve quality pub meals, officially opens tomorrow.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, June 09, 2003