AFTER experiencing one of the "most miserable and unhappiest Christmas and New Year periods for more than 200 years", villagers in Fovant are pressing for their one and only pub to reopen.

The closure of the Pembroke Arms "punched a gaping hole" into the heart of the community, claim villagers, who just three years ago had four active pubs in or near the parish.

Nigel Knowles, chairman of Fovant parish council, said the Pembroke Arms closed in October last year and this was one of several closures since the pub was acquired by Anthony Crooks about two years ago.

Mr Knowles said: "Never at any time in the past, and certainly not in anyone's living memory, has the village been entirely bereft of a public house to visit.

"The Christmas charitable collections did not take place and the traditional singing of carols with the Shaftesbury Silver Band, and the resulting donations, did not happen.

"The local workers' Christmas parties, local club and society Christmas gatherings were aborted or moved away and the villagers' Christmas lunch was curtailed.

"The hugely popular New Year's Eve party vanished.

"The result was no village networking, villagers were isolated from each other and dispersed, a darkened place, a muted community, a forlorn and bleak village."

Mr Knowles said that villagers were worried that Mr Crooks would apply for a change of use for the Grade II listed building, allowing it to be converted into a country house or flats. The pub is on the market for £450,000 but villagers fear this is too high a price to attract a potential landlord.

The parish council received a petition with 108 signatures requesting a public meeting, and this was held last night, when villagers discussed the closure and its long-term future as a village pub business.

Mr Crooks, who said he would not attend the meeting, said he had no intention of opening the pub again or turning it into housing.

He said he bought it as a favour for a friend and now just wants to sell it.

Mr Crooks said it was a private matter and nothing to do with the parish council, and he did not intend to discuss it with them.