IT IS all hands on deck at Sian and Roger Digby’s village pub.

The couple are among a team of residents desperate to keep the last pub in Fordham open for the community – so keen they took it over themselves last year.

When they should be enjoying their retirement, the couple have been throwing themselves into keeping the doors of the Three Horseshoes in Fordham open.

As well as trying to get as many people as possible through the doors they have welcomed the support of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), which has helped them put the wheels in motion for a move which would protect the pub from closure.

Sian explains: “A lovely lady called Abby, who works in the Live and Let Live where Roger and our son Henry sometimes drink at, is involved in Camra and she told us we should get the pub registered as an asset of community value.

“Once this is done then it means it gives us greater protection as it would not be possible to turn it into a private residence, for example,” she says.

As a result they have launched a petition to get as many people on board as possible.

The pub's popularity in the community was further proved when an appeal to get involved in a painting party to spruce up the exterior of the pub resulted in a 15-strong team of volunteers.

Sian says: “We were really overwhelmed at how many people turned up and got stuck in.

“They got refreshments in return for their efforts and the outside now looks so much more inviting.

“Not only that but quite a few came back again the next day, as the Saturday was rained off in the afternoon, and even in the week.

“Basil Taylor was one of those who came back in the week and he was up a ladder, touching up the sign for us,” she says.

Last weekend the pub also launched its new outside barbecue area with live music and family entertainment for the Bank Holiday.

Sian says events like this, and encouraging people in to eat during the week, will also be key to the pub's future survival.

“We need to keep it busy all the week through and to encourage people from outside of the village to give it a try.

“We have the support of the locals and regulars and that is absolutely brilliant but we cannot rely on that all the time, especially for special events like the Blues Brothers tribute we had recently.

“That was an excellent night but it was mainly people we knew and they will not always want to dip into their pockets if we are holding them on a regular basis.

“We didn’t think that we were going to be as hands on as we would have to be but we hope in the future that will change.”

“We are hoping to have a wonderful summer.

The village previously also had the Vulcan pub, which closed more than two decades ago and has been replaced by housing.