TRADITIONAL country pubs are still a favourite with drinkers according to a new survey.

Commissioned by real ale campaigners CAMRA, the survey revealed that out of 1,000 pubgoers, 80 per cent said they preferred more traditional ale houses, while less than two in 10 said they preferred branded bars.

The results have been hailed a welcome boost for the many village pubs throughout Worcestershire.

"Country pubs have been under threat and have almost been forgotten with all the investment in cities and urban areas," said Andy Wood, chairman of the Worcestershire branch of CAMRA.

"This survey is good news and shows that people are starting to rediscover them. We feel that country pubs still have an important part to play in society. The theme bars do bring in money but the opportunity to choose is always a good thing."

Roger Thomas, landlord of The Royal Oak at Kinnersley agreed.

"Village pubs are small and cosy and you get a lively bit of banter," he said.

At the Nightingale pub, Spetchley, business is also booming.

"We are very busy at the weekends and get quite a few regulars in," said assistant manager Ian Watkiss.

"The themed bars tend to attract younger people but the village pubs cater for young and old alike. People like to come in, have a good chat and enjoy the food that we offer."

But Mike Stevens of the Licensed Victuallers Association said that while there may be a role for country pubs, they were becoming an "endangered species".

"It's a fact of life that themed bars are doing 80 per cent of business and are taking in serious amounts of money," said Mr Stevens, landlord of Cromwell's pub in Powick and Toby's Tavern in Worcester.

"I have a foot in both camps with a pub in the city and one in a village but at the end of the day, it's the traditional public houses which are closing, not the themed bars. I would love to believe what the survey says but business tells me differently."

According to industry figures, about a quarter of Britain's 60,000 pubs are now either themed or branded with no sign of a downturn in the trend.

Bass Retail Leisure, which owns the O'Neills chain, said drinkers were "voting with their feet".