A COMMUNITY'S plan to save their village pub has taken another few steps forward.

The Green Dragon, in Combe St Nicholas, closed its doors permanently last September and just a day later a community campaign was launched to save the pub.

The Save The Dragon group have now got a registered society, a bank account and received just under £90,000 of pledges.

To buy the pub, the community will need around £400,000. They are aiming for £220,000 from donations/pledges and the rest of the money should come from grants and loans.

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Dave Crossman, who started the the Save The Dragon group and is chairman of the steering committee, said: "This is a long drawn-out process and it is difficult in the middle of a pandemic.

"But even with limited available methods of communication we have still managed to get the word out and raise £90,000.

"I do feel like it is going to take a lot longer than we hoped, but we are still committed, with a strong committee that meets every other week and moves things forward.

"I am really pleased to take it from an idea over a beer to where we are now as a fully registered society.

"We have the ability now to attract money from local authorities."

Mr Crossman has lived in the village for 30 years, and believes the pub is an "important part of village life".

And so do many other residents, as they have been fundraising during the pandemic.

Some completed dry January and managed to raise £1000 for the cause - and Mr Crossman says he plans to organise more fundraising events once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Local businesses have also been helping out too. Minster Veterinary Surgery, in Ilminster, gave £500 to help save the pub.

And once the pub is open, Mr Crossman plans to work with local businesses too - planning to sell local produce, and host local events. And he asks businesses in return to support the pub through donations, sponsorship and so on.

"We need a lot more financial support from the community before we can make this viable. A community pub only works if significant numbers of people from the local community support it.

"These things can take a very long time but I am confident that with the right focus and backing, we will make this a success."

To find out more visit savethegreendragon.com