TWO village communities have mounted campaigns to save their local pubs.

At Brooms Green, near Dymock, residents have formed the Horseshoe Inn Companions to oppose moves to turn it into a guest house.

Owner Chris Tweedale, head of Ledbury's John Masefield High School, has applied for planning permission to formally close the pub, build an extension and reopen it as a guest house.

The pub has been closed since he bought it in May.

Residents, supported by the Campaign for Real Ale (CA-MRA), have written to Mr Tweedale calling for talks.

"We are keen to see a future for the Horseshoe Inn and for the community," said the letter, "At the moment we are perplexed and upset that you will not talk to us."

Mr Tweedale has yet to make contact with the group over the letter and was unavailable for comment.

At Bringsty Common, near Bromyard, there is a move to change the Live and Let Live pub to a residential property.

A planning application has been submitted to Hereford-shire Council by owner Ms Shirley Cook, although she is facing opposition.

Securing CAMRA support, which felt the pub was a unique and historic rural alehouse, the Bringsty Action Group raised £120,000 in 1996 to buy the property it.

After initially agreeing to the sale, Ms Cook closed the pub, took it off the market and applied to convert the bar into living space.

Planning approval was den-ied on the basis that a commercial offer had been made.

The property again went up for sale as a pub this spring and Ms Cook says she has not found a commercial buyer.

She said: "We've had no offers and are applying again for change of use. We have got two bars and two toilets that for the last four years we haven't been able to use."

She added the pub had not been making any money.