Council to purchase village pub

The last pint was pulled in the Toby Jug three years ago

Residents living in a Devon village have moved a step closer in their fight to save their local pub.

The Toby Jug in Bickington closed in 2003 and the Heavitree Brewery said it could not reopen it because of the high cost of repairs.

Now Teignbridge District Council has agreed in principle to issue a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).

If the CPO goes ahead, the Toby Jug will then be sold by the council to the Plymouth-based Wykeham Group.

The Wykeham Group specialises in turning round failing pubs.

But before the sale can go ahead, the council must be given a watertight agreement on the reimbursement of all its costs by the Wykeham Group.

The move has been welcomed by the Save the Toby Jug Action Group (STAG).

A spokesperson said: "Although there is a potentially long road to travel before the Toby Jug reopens, STAG and the people of Bickington are grateful to the council for its support and the action it has taken."