Campaigners raise more than £80,000 to buy village pub near Wem
Campaigners have raised more than £80,000 in just three weeks as they prepare to put in a bid to buy their local village pub.
Residents want to run The Railway Inn at Yorton, near Wem, which is being put up for sale by its current owners.
Campaigners don't want to see it closed for good and turned into new homes.
The pub has been run by the same family for 80 years and has been at the heart of village life. But it is now under threat because they've decided to sell up.
The villagers, and other pub-regulars, started their fundraising about three weeks ago and have put up boards in Yorton to update people on their progress.
One of the campaigners Simon Rouse said: "We have raised £85,000 in three weeks from locals in share pledges.
"We have also applied for a grant from the Plunkett Foundation. We are also looking for other grants and low interest loans. We are doing a huge amount of paperwork.
"We are going on a coach trip to another community pub. We are also taking part in events like village fetes and a beer festival.
"We are enjoying getting on the right side of our target. We are feeling buoyant that when the pub comes on the market we will be in a strong position to buy it.
"We are waiting for the valuation. The current owners are currently clearing 80 years of memories and they are doing it carefully. We can respect that.
"Once it is on the market we will carry out our own survey and valuation, and see if we can reach an agreement."
Mr Rouse said about 120 people have pledged donations to the campaign.
"We have even received a pledge from as far as the United States by someone who remembers the place and has a huge amount of affection for it," he added.
