PUB campaigners are calling for pubs across West Dorset to be brought back into use.

More than 150 people attended a meeting at the Electric Palace in Bridport to voice their concerns about the number of pubs at risk in the region.

The Community Alert on Pubs group is initially calling on Palmers Brewery to re-open the Three Cups in Lyme Regis, the Old Swan in Toller Porcorum and the White Hart in Beaminster.

Group leader John Grantham said it was a ‘monumental evening’. He said: “Everyone involved has such a feeling of exhilaration now as we feel we have broken through to the point where people’s feelings have been expressed finally.”

He said that the issue affected every part of Dorset and people were beginning to fight back against pub closures.

The lobbyists are now putting pressure on West Dorset District Council to exercise its powers to compulsory purchase the Three Cups Hotel which has been closed for more than two decades after a vote on the night showed unanimous support for the move.

“A landmark result – the clock cannot be turned back – and it reflects exactly the public mood,” said Mr Grantham.

“We hope and believe we can persuade our elected representatives to understand that compulsory purchase need not cost the council or taxpayer any money.”

But West Dorset District Council leader Robert Gould said he was against it because he preferred to ‘go on talking’ with the owner, and also to take any such action would be to cause a precedent.

The campaigners are due to meet with West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin on Friday.