A campaign to stop rural pubs being forced to call last orders for good has been launched in the House of Commons by Selby MP John Grogan.

He is urging the Government to slash rates for all rural pubs by 50 per cent and by 100 per cent in cases where pubs are struggling to continue. His move has been backed by 27 MPs including Lawrie Quinn, Labour MP for Whitby.

Mr Grogan believes this is vital to stem the growing number of rural pubs being forced to close which a Countryside Agency survey has revealed is as many as six a week.

Mr Grogan said: "In many North Yorkshire villages the pub is an absolutely crucial focus for the community. Where the pub closes, many people treat it as a personal loss from which the village never recovers.

"The Government should extend the 50 per cent mandatory rate relief to village pubs on the same basis as that enjoyed by village post offices and village stores.

"Lone rural post offices and shops pay half the normal rates if they are in communities of less than 3,000 people."

The move has been warmly received by rural publicans struggling to cope with lower rural incomes and worried about the Government's plans to lower the drink-driving limit from 80mg in blood to 50mg.

Mr Grogan also urged local councils to use discretionary powers to give struggling rural pubs 100 per cent rate relief. He has tabled a Commons motion for his campaign which has already been signed by 27 MPs but is expected to be signed by many more.

A Department of Environment spokeswoman said: "There are no current plans to grant mandatory rate relief to rural pubs.

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