The mother of brave youngster Jade Cumberland has branded as disgusting plans to shut the York pub whose regulars rallied round her.

Jeanette, who drinks at the Frog Hall Inn, Layerthorpe, also said the plan to demolish her local and replace it with a McDonalds drive-through was "stupid and a waste of money".

Almost £300 has been raised by drinkers at the threatened pub for the Jade Cumberland Charity Fund.

Tang Hall School pupil Jade, ten, who had her legs amputated after she was born with rare deformities, needs the money to find help find a viable alternative to her current prosthetic limbs.

"I can't believe they are considering it," said Jeanette.

"It is a great pub, which is really taking off at the moment, and it would be a terrible waste to see it shut.

"I am very grateful for all the fundraising they have done for Jade, and it would be a shame to see so many regulars lose their pub.

"I think putting in a McDonalds is a stupid idea anyway and would never work. What they're considering is disgusting."

Landlord Wayne Allan, who is building a new sun terrace at the pub, said: "At the moment we have benches on order for the new terrace and we have live music bookings until January.

"I am going to keep running this pub until someone tells me not to."

Punters at the pub, led by Sue Lacy, a regular for 26 years, are spearheading a campaign against the proposed development.

A petition is available at the pub and at a number of local businesses, and the campaign has already attracted the support of the Campaign for Real Ale.

Sheffield-based developer Dransfield Properties Ltd has submitted plans to City of York Council to regenerate the former British Gas site next to the pub, including a drive-through McDonalds and a video outlet.

Updated: 14:45 Wednesday, April 25, 2001