A village community group fears for the future of a much-loved pub that will be boarded up by the end of the month.

The Bricklayers Arms in Coxhill, Shepherdswell is being sold off by its owners Shepherd Neame.

The team, who call themselves The Bricklayers Arms Action Group, are angry with the brewery’s decision and fear the site will be earmarked for housing.

Secretary Allison Cooper, of Coombe Close, claimed the fabric of the pub had not been maintained and that there had been a lack of communication with licensee Ann Hirst.

She said: “The roof leaks, the kitchen has been condemned and the window frames are completely rotten.

“The lack of communication with the licensee has caused her a great deal of stress and anxiety over the past few months.”

The pub is one of two in the community and is set to be boarded up by Monday, September 21.

On February 19 this year Shepherd Neame informed Dover District Council (DDC) that it intended to sell the pub.

DDC then wrote to Shepherdswell and Coldred Parish Council on March 3 informing them that it was set to close two weeks later.

The parish council did not agree to buy it for the community, but have backed the action group in their efforts to raise awareness of what is going on.

A survey found people have been put off because of its “poor appearance” and lack of hot food on offer.

A Shepherd Neame spokesman said: “After careful consideration, the brewery is selling the Bricklayers Arms in Shepherdswell.

"The decision was not taken lightly, but the pub has not been economically viable for some time."

'The decision was not taken lightly, but the pub has not been economically viable for some time.' - Shepherd Neame

MP Charlie Elphicke has been monitoring the situation closely.

He said: “The pub is a much-loved traditional community asset and I hope very much it will be able to continue as one. I hope Shepherd Neame will talk to people in the village who are concerned about this.”

The action group will form a community interest company to prevent other buildings, deemed a community asset, from being sold off in the future.