A LANDLORD and landlady from Burton are fighting to save their beloved tavern becoming yet another sad statistic after being told by the pub company it was set to shut.

Dean and Melinda Thomas, who run The Manor Arms in Burton, need to raise a £75,000 deposit in order to buy the pub they have worked hard to change.

Owners Punch Taverns want to close it or sell it, but with the help of their regulars, the couple, who have been running the pub for 18 months, are fighting back.

The couple are holding a four-day music festival, starting tonight, featuring a full line-up of well-known local bands.

Landlord Dave, 39, said: “When we arrived here we spent a lot of money doing the place up and cleaning up the trouble. But then they put the place up for sale.

“Now we’re trying to raise the deposit and save the pub from going the same place as many others.

“Local pubs are so important and we want to continue transforming this place, but we need to raise the money before someone else puts in an offer and turns it into flats or something.

“We’ve put everything into this place and even had our own wedding reception here because we couldn’t get the day off.”

The musical bonanza starts tonight at 9pm, on Saturday and Sunday from 2pm until around midnight and continues on Monday afternoon.

Bands on the bill include Lady Winwoods Maggot and the 17-piece big band In The Pink, with a jam session for all the bands and budding musicians on Monday evening.

A spokesperson for Punch Taverns said: “We are currently exploring options around the future of the Manor Arms and would be keen to hear from local people who may be interested in the possibility of running the pub.”