A VILLAGE pub which was saved from closure after a campaign by local residents is once again looking for a new publican.People living in Wenhaston, near Halesworth, were horrified to learn that Southwold brewers Adnams were planning to close The Star public house and convert it into a private home when the then publican retired.

A VILLAGE pub which was saved from closure after a campaign by local residents is once again looking for a new publican.

People living in Wenhaston, near Halesworth, were horrified to learn that Southwold brewers Adnams were planning to close The Star public house and convert it into a private home when the then publican retired.

They mounted an SOS (Save Our Star) campaign and organised a number of events including public meetings and a sponsored cycle ride to set up a fighting fund in a bid to get the brewers to change their minds.

Adnams listened to the villagers and withdrew their planning application for the conversion.

Publican Anthony Williams moved in to the pub and there were high hopes that the threat of closure would quickly become a distant memory.

Now, however, the fear of possible closure is looming over the village pub as Mr Williams has given Adnams notice that he will be leaving in a few weeks time.

"When I took over the tenancy I promised to give it two years and this I have done.

"It has been a difficult two years trading and unfortunately I have found it just as difficult as the previous publican," he said.

A number of people living in Wenhaston fear that Adnams will now go ahead and carry out the conversion plans they originally proposed.

Jonathan Adnams, the company's managing director, said he had received letters from Wenhaston residents worried about the pub's future.

"I have replied to the letters I have received and have explained the current situation.

"We are actively trying to find other couples who are prepared to run the pub and there has been some interest," he said.

Mr Adnams said that the situation was very similar to that when the closure proposals were first put forward.

"Unfortunately The Star at Wenhaston is a very marginal pub when it comes to making it financially viable.

"It has to be able to provide a living for our tenants and if people in the village want it to survive they have to use it," he said.

Mr Adnams said if they were unable to find new tenants for the pub they would have to look at "other options" that would include disposing of the pub.

"If we cannot find tenants this time I think it is inevitable that something will have to be done.

"This is the second time in recent years we have found ourselves in this position over The Star at Wenhaston and it might be time to say enough is enough and let someone else have a go," he said.

Mr Adnams assured local residents that everything would be done to find new tenants for the pub and that developments were currently at an early stage.