Community's pub may become house

The community said the pub was a valuable local amenity

A community group was granted the right to buy its local pub, but was then told it may become a house.

Midmar residents in Aberdeenshire had raised concerns about losing the Midmar Inn as a valuable local amenity.

Spokeswoman Margot Kennedy said locals were "over the moon" they could buy it if it ever went on the market.

But the pub's owner David Cooper closed it down last year and now plans to turn it into a house. He said he had no intention of putting it on the market.

Under Right to Buy legislation, Scottish ministers agreed that the Friends of Midmar Inn Community Company had first refusal.

'Big step'

Mr Cooper told BBC Scotland: "We ran this place for three years and gave it our best shot.

"The ones that have made the most noise are the ones that used it the least."

Mrs Kennedy said: "It does not give us the right to buy it now but it's a big step down the road, the community will have first refusal.

"One day he says he won't sell and another day he says will sell.

"He has to get planning permission for change of use before he can build a house and we will fight that tooth and nail."