Skipton MP Julian Smith is urging communities to “list their local”.

Mr Smith said residents could seek to have a pub listed with their local authority.

If the owner wished to sell the hostelry, the community would then have six months to produce a plan and funding to try to save it.

Mr Smith said many people were unaware of the new rights, under the Localism Act.

He added: “Our pubs are not only important national institutions with a special place in our hearts, but contribute to the country both socially and economically. However, the number of pubs listed as assets of community value still represent less than one per cent of the total.

“I want to raise awareness of the new powers given to communities to protect what’s important to where they live, and encourage people to come together to list their community pubs so they can be protected for the future.”

For more information, visit mycommunityrights.org.uk