HELP is on its way in the fight to save Worcestershire and Herefordshire village pubs from possible extinction.

The Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) announced it is to join forces with real ale campaigners CAMRA on the issue.

With 200 rural pubs a year in England closing their doors, the two organisations are determined to ensure more villages save any threatened locals.

Rupert Segar, campaign manager for CPRE Worcestershire, said: "Often called the village parliament, the local is more than just a place for people to meet and debate the issues of the day - the pub can be a linchpin for the entire community.

"In many cases a pub is worth more sold as a private house than as a going concern, but innovative landlords and enthusiastic patrons can reverse that trend."

CAMRA is already supporting villages in Worcestershire and Herefordshire keen to ensure the protection of their pubs as an amenity. Now, with the help of CPRE representatives in both counties they can offer more practical advice on how to turn around a failing inn.

Mark Haslam, local CAMRA representative, said: "We are not experts on planning and issues involving local and national policy regarding rural development, but CPRE is. This is where a partnership can add value. We can combine our strengths to gain a secure future for the village pub."

In Herefordshire, The Live and Let Live pub at Bringsty Common was only recently 'saved' when its owners agreed to accept an offer by locals to buy it instead of proceeding with a planning application for a change of use.

In Dymock, the parish council purchased the village's threatened Beauchamp Arms.

Ralph Palmer, the Beauchamp Arms landlord, said he was unsure about how effective the teaming up of the two organisations would be.

He said: "CAMRA had nothing to do with us here but we are a well used pub. People know that if they don't support us then the pub won't be here.

"The thing I am campaigning about is the business rate. I don't think we should be paying and if the Government is in favour of keeping village pubs open they should be offering us help."