A campaign to save a tiny village pub is gathering pace, with more than 3,700 people signing a petition to stop development.

The 12th century Little Gem, in High Street, Aylesford, has fallen into disrepair since the last pint was poured there in 2010 and now looks set to become a house.

Owner James O’Callaghan, from Middlesex, applied to Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) to change the building’s use in May.

Since then a number of residents have criticised the plan, saying it will tear the heart out of the village.

A social media campaign to save the pub, which once claimed to be one of the smallest in the country, was set up by Heather Worrall last month and an online petition has so far been signed 3,762 times.

Mrs Worrall, who has lived in the village for 10 years, said: “Losing the Gem would be a very big loss for the village. Aylesford has died since it closed as it was a communal space and has been left to rot for the last five years.”

The 48-year-old company director added villagers had been left horrified by the state of the building and prospect of development.

TMBC has also received objections on its planning website, with many people citing the building’s historical significance and questioning why it has been left to rot.

The council has previously said it will monitor the condition of the pub after an original window was removed without permission — Mr O’Callaghan has now applied for listed building consent to replace the window and whitewash the facade.

Aylesford Parish Council has offered no objection to the proposal for the pub, which failed to sell for £230,000 last year, but due to the site’s close proximity to a flood plain the Environment Agency has warned TMBC against approval.

A plan to turn the adjoining business centre, which is also owned by Mr O’Callaghan, into eight homes was approved in 2012.

To view the petition go to bit.ly/lilgempetition and to look at the application go to bit.ly/littlegemdev