THE EADT's fight to help save Britain's smallest pub from the threat of closure was given a boost yesterday with the launch of our poster campaign.Regulars at the Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds were helping to drum up support for our campaign by plastering the walls of their famous local with the posters.

THE EADT's fight to help save Britain's smallest pub from the threat of closure was given a boost yesterday with the launch of our poster campaign.

Regulars at the Nutshell in Bury St Edmunds were helping to drum up support for our campaign by plastering the walls of their famous local with the posters.

And four special post boxes were also unveiled in the town for people to give their views on the pub's future.

Yesterday the EADT reported how The Nutshell faces uncertain times after St Edmundsbury Borough Council refused an application to put six tables and chairs outside the town-centre premises.

Landlord Martin Baylis said he has been struggling to make ends meet and it was hoped that the new seating would boost the pub's custom.

It is now hoped a second application to put the outdoor seating along the pub's frontage, in the Traverse, will be given the go-ahead if enough people pledge their support for the campaign.

Posters for the Save The Nutshell campaign will be put in windows of businesses and homes all over Bury, and people are being urged to fill in forms and voting slips.

“It will be a disaster if this world-famous watering hole is taken away from the town,” said Mr Baylis.

“The Nutshell is vital to Bury in terms of tourism because we attract people here from all over the world.

“If we had tables and chairs outside the pub more people would stop and have a drink and it could really mean the difference between staying open or closing.”

John Gagen, chairman of the West Suffolk branch of CAMRA, the campaign for real ale, yesterday joined the long list of supporters for our campaign.

“It would be a crying shame if we lost The Nutshell and Bury St Edmunds would certainly not be the same,” he said.

“Greene King cannot afford to close the pub as it is internationally famous and I would be very surprised if they let it go.

“It is a very popular tourist attraction and I think it needs to be marketed as an attraction rather than a pub.”

Save The Nutshell voting forms will be available in The Nutshell, and the EADT offices in Bury.

They can then be sent to the EADT at Save The Nutshell, 11 Woolhall Street, Bury St Edmunds.

Voters can also post their views in one of the four post boxes, which can be found in McColls newsagents in Hardwick Road, Eastgate Stores in Eastgate Street, Court News in Glastonbury Road, and the EADT Bury office in Woolhall Street.

Anyone who wants a Save the Nutshell poster should either visit the pub or the EADT offices in Bury.