A TV detective has thrown his weight behind a campaign to save a Lancashire village's only pub.
Andrew Lancel, Detective Inspector Neil Manson in ITV1's The Bill since 2003, was upset to hear the Becconsall Hotel, Station Road, Hesketh Bank, could be bulldozed.
It closed in June 2009 and locals fear houses or flats will be built there.
In August, 92-year-old former landlady and mother-of-four Una McBride – known to people in Hesketh Bank as 'Mrs Mc' – issued a battle cry to save the building which was once the jewel in the village's crown.
Along with local residents, including Maureen Baldwin, and her daughter, also called Una, the Save the Bec Action Group was formed.
Andrew, whose other television credits include Soldier, Soldier and Queer as Folk, remembers the pub from when he lived nearby.
He said: "Before moving away, and way before I joined the cast of The Bill, I lived in Tarleton and fondly remember the area, its people, its shops and of course its pubs.
"The Bec being one of those pubs and Mrs Mc and the staff of The Bec being some of those people – a place and people who added to and matter greatly to the community.
"I give my support to the Save the Bec Action Group and hope it continues its priceless tradition."
More than 60 people, including councillors and a CAMRA representative, attended a recent public meeting to discuss the campaign – which also has the backing of Lancashire-born celebrity chef Marcus Wareing.
Una said: "There's a North West developer who's very interested in that site and a planning application is expected soon.
"It's really important that people send in letters of objection once it goes in.
"People are concerned about the impact of more housing on the infrastructure – the sewage, roads, traffic and schools."
The group plans to research various options including contacting breweries and hotel chains who may be interested in reinstating The Bec, which is on the market for £2.2m, as a family pub.
Other ideas include creating a retirement village with a pub, community social enterprise or co-operative scheme such as the Hesket Newmarket Brewery co-op in Cumbria which re-opened the only pub in the village of Melmerby.
Una added: "We're planning a coach trip to visit one of these.
"This campaign is about community and community spirit.
"People are starting to realise that if we work together there are possibilities and we could create something fantastic."
Youngsters in the village have set up a Save the Bec Facebook page which has 169 members.
And people can write to South Ribble MP David Borrow – see www.heskethbank.com for a sample letter.
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