The campaign to save the Railway Arms pub in Saffron Walden and stop the site being sold for housing has gathered steam.

Shares are on sale from £50 for what is believed could turn out to be the town’s first community owned pub.

The campaign, STRAP (Save the Railway Arms Pub) reminds prospective investors that their investments will be eligible for tax relief and pay interest of up to 3%.

According to the group’s latest figures on the website it has now raised £177,250 towards its £250,000 target to buy the pub.

The pub was registered as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) at a meeting of Uttlesford District Council on March 30. This will expire on Wednesday, November 8, by which time STRAP hopes to have a firm bid to buy the pub from its owners from its owner, the brewer Charles Wells. The site is otherwise likely to be sold for housing development.

See: www.strap.org.uk or call 07399 486114.