A list of more than 200 Local Pub of the Year title winners, including six in Suffok and north Essex, has been unveiled by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

The roll of honour has been published to coincide with CAMRA’s Community Pubs Month initiative, which runs throughout April and aims to help the hard-pressed pubs sector regain former customers and attract new ones..

Among the Local Pub of the Year winners selected by CAMRA’s network of local branches are the Dove in Bury St Edmunds (chosen by the West Suffolk branch), the Victoria Inn in Colchester (Colchester & North Essex) and the White Hart at Weeley Heath (Tendring).

Other winners include the Carpenters Arms in Maldon (Maldon & Dengie), the Horse & Groom at Cornish Hall End (North West Essex) and the Orange Tree in Chelmsford (Chelmsford & Mid Essex).

According to CAMRA’s list, its Ipswich & East Suffolk and North East Suffolk branches have yet to declare a Local Pub of the Year winner.

Research conducted by CAMRA earlier this year found that two out of five people (40%) no longer visit pubs at all while only about one in eight (14%) visit a pub ast least once a week or more.

Of those who are regular pub users, nearly a quarter (23%) says that they now visit less often than they did just 12 months ago.

“With 29 pubs closing every week and pubs experiencing these worrying trends, we would like to encourage everyone to visit the pub in April to show your support for British pubs,” said a CAMRA spokesman.

“Pubs are great places to socialise, and that does not always mean having to drink alcohol. A great community pub is adaptable to the needs of its locals, offering the perfect social environment for all to enjoy.”

Community Pubs Month aims to build on previous CAMRA initiatives in support of the sector, including last year’s Pubs and the Economy campaign which highlighted the number of jobs created by pubs and their contribution to the Treasury through taxation.