A COMMUNITY-led venture which turned around the fortunes of an ailing pub will be featured on national television.

The efforts of Grizebeck villagers, who have juggled their day jobs and family commitments to help save The Greyhound Inn, will be the focus of a five-part series called Save Our Boozer, broadcast on Blighty TV at 8pm tonight.

The pub, which is thought to have served fine ale and food for more than 300 years, was set to close in January but licensees Dick and Chris Strike answered an advert in The Publican asking for at risk pubs to contact Eye TV with a view to taking part in a television series.

The company paid the first month’s rent after a management committee – including a farmer, teacher and railway worker – was formed to steer the inn through the storm.

Martin Salter-Smith, of the Grey-hound Steering Group, said: “Mashing tatties and neeps for 70 people on Burns’ Night with a film camera in your face, when you aren’t used to either of those things, is an interesting experience.”

“But everyone pulled together and I hope we showed the film crew what our local communities are capable of.”

After the initial few weeks running purely on volunteer labour, the Greyhound has gone from strength-to- strength and now employs a full-time manager and a chef, as well as four part-time bar staff and eight waiting-on staff, all from the local area.

Letters of support have been received from the likes of personalities Chris Bonington, Gary Rhodes and Shirley Williams. Mr Salter-Smith added: “We hope that people who watch the programme all over the country will be encouraged by it to see that it is, after all, possible to save vital rural services if the will to do it is strong enough.”

Award-winning landlord Jay Smith has coached the committee as part of a mission to revive the great British boozer.

He said: "This is a serious venture – not just a TV series – which will offer communities a real opportunity to restore their pub.

“We will challenge local people to revive the heart of their community."

"These boozers are the backbone of British society. Lose them and we lose our identity. I want this series to inspire people to get on board.”

Blighty TV can be viewed on Sky channel 534 and Virgin TV channel 206.