An MP has expressed his delight after a West Sussex village's only pub was saved from closure after a 16-month campaign.

Residents launched the STOP - Save Thakeham's Only Pub - campaign after the White Lion in Thakeham, near Storrington, closed in August 2000 following the death of landlord Bill Newton.

Thakeham had already lost its post office and shop and villagers were determined to save the pub in The Street.

Now the historic building has been bought and is currently undergoing a major revamp. New Owner Judi Gehlcken is hoping to re-open the pub in the second week of February.

Mrs Gehlcken, who already owns and runs the White Horse in Mare Hill Road, Pulborough, was in New Zealand for her daughter's wedding and was unavailable for comment.

Howard Flight, MP for Arundel and South Downs, whose constituency includes Thakeham, said: "This is wonderful for Thakeham as the centre of its community life will be flourishing again.

"I look forward to meeting the owners and visiting the pub once it is restored and open again."

STOP spokesman Peter Bullock said the White Lion opened for four days just before Christmas as a trial run before closing again for the refit.

He said: "It was extremely well-received and the new owners were quite surprised and pleased at the number of people who went up there for a drink.

"We formed STOP to ensure the pub was reopened and not demolished for a housing development.

"It has been a part of village life for several hundred years and was the only pub in the whole parish, which has about 1,000 homes."