Two hundred people have signed a petition calling for a The Cliffe Arms in Mathon to be reopened.

It was raised by village resident Michael Hickman, who is fed up of seeing the pub closed and wants to know what is happening.

Mr Hickman has sent copies of the petition to local politicians including Leominster MP Bill Wiggin.

"It's a lovely little pub and should be worth a gold mine really but they closed it down and I don't know why," he said.

The pub has been closed for around three years, although it reopened for a few months in the spring of 2004, after an extensive refurbishment.

Mark Haslam, spokesman for Herefordshire CAMRA, said: "CAMRA will always support a campaign to retain a pub when there is demonstrated strong support for evidence of its long-term financial viability.

"In light of hearing about this petition, we would be very supportive if there was any threat to the long-term future of The Cliffe Arms."

Mr Hickman said he would be meeting with Herefordshire CAMRA next week to discuss his concerns. Herefordshire Council's licensing department said the pub did not have a current licence to sell alcohol.

The last known owner of The Cliffe Arms was Tony Hayes, of Hallow, whose nephew Antony Lofting was manager when it reopened for a short time in 2004. Mr Hayes could not be contacted for comment.