A PUB at the gateway to Earby will be reopened today (Friday) by local girl Michelle Cooper, with the promise of good food, fine ales and live entertainment.

The Punch Bowl, on Skipton Road, has been derelict for some time, but Miss Cooper, together with partner Martin Andrew, hopes to restore it to its former glory.

Michelle, who was previously working at a Co-op store in Colne, describes herself as "Earby born and bred".

The 37-year-old said she decided to take on the Punch Bowl because she believed the town needed a venue which combined dining and music under one roof.

She said: "Earby needs something for the local community with live bands on and good quality food.

"We want to get it back to how people remember it used to be - good music, food and atmosphere, but in modern surroundings."

Michelle will be juggling her commitments as a mother-of-three with her life as a landlady, but she will be able to draw on Mr Andrew's background in pub management.

The Punch Bowl will open at 5pm tonight and there will be live entertainment. A range of live bands, solo artistes, discos and karaoke nights have been pencilled in for the coming weeks along with a large screen, while the pub's kitchen is expected to be up and running within a few weeks.