A MALVERN pub owner has made a firm offer to buy the Hawthorn Inn at Upper Welland.

The closure of the pub this summer caused concern among locals, who feared the village would lose an amenity.

Duncan Ironmonger, who already owns the Nag's Head, Malvern, and the Chase, Upper Colwall, wants to buy the premises.

But although he has made a formal offer, he has so far had no reply from current owner James Stuart.

"If they won't even talk to us, then what can we do?" said Mr Ironmonger.

"But we will stay on the sidelines and should the pub come up for sale, we'd still be interested."

Upper Welland residents have formed a committee, Friends of The Hawthorn (FROTH), to look at ways of keeping the pub alive as a focal point in the community.

"Our concern is simply that the village is not deprived of its single pub, with all of the social and commercial benefits that affords local people and which may bring welcome visitors to the village as well," said Peter Clark, chairman of FROTH.