VILLAGERS have launched a community bid to save their local pub.

At a packed meeting inside West Malvern Village Hall, nearly 150 residents unanimously agreed to launch a community bid to buy the Brewers' Arms.

This is after the owners, Admiral Taverns, decided to sell it.

Speaking at the meeting, steering group chairman Brian O'Connell said the end goal was to restore the pub to its glory days under legendary landlords Trevor Marston and Sue Adamson.

He said: "Many of us remember the glory days of when Trevor and Sue ran the pub.

"Trevor died in 2010 and Sue left in 2015. Since then we have had periods of shortlived licensees and closure.

"We believe it is a viable business if run by the community."

At the meeting, attended by 147 people from in and around West Malvern, CAMRA's Mark Haslam laid out the structure for any community bid should it be successful.

The community group has until early December to inform Admiral Taverns they wish to proceed with a bid.

They then have until April to draw up a business plan and shareholder prospectus, with both documents forming a key part of the community ownership model.

He added: "The community ownership model allows us to put the pub on a more sustainable footing.

"The business would look to buy and sell shares and the people running it wouldn't be constrained by buying their beer and food etc from the brewery company.

"They would have the freedom to source their own goods."

Mr Haslam, who has been involved in a number of community ownership bids for pubs, said the guide price for the West Malvern Road site was around £325,000.

The community group plans to have the site independently valued, with a large amount of refurbishment work likely should they have to buy it including the kitchen, toilets and upstairs rooms.

At the end of the meeting, which included a Q&A for residents, the vote was taken to agree on starting the bidding process.

This was a unanimous show of hands in favour of launching the community bid.

Mr Haslam said: "This decision means the real hard work starts now.

"This is a golden opportunity for the West Malvern community to take control of their local pub and not only place it on a financially sustainable footing, but to further develop it as a hub for the wider community to use and enjoy.

"We will be keeping people up to date on progress as we go, which will include future open meetings."