Bickington residents want one Christmas present – to have their village pub reopened.

residents gathered around the Toby Jug Inn on Tuesday to campaign against it closing.

They decorated it with a red ribbon, and tied a tag to it saying: 'All we want for Christmas is our pub back, please.'

The villagers desperately want the pub open for business for Christmas as they have nowhere to meet.

Since it closed in May, residents have linked up to urge Heavitree Brewery, which owns the pub, to reopen it.

Graham Crocker, finance director of Heavitree, said last month that it will not be making any hasty decisions about the pub, but it will not reopen soon.

Camilla Roskelley, who lives on the outskirts of Newton Abbot, was a customer at the pub for 30 years.

'The Toby Jug closing is devastating. it was our local pub for as long as I can remember. What I fear is kids will vandalise it or set fire to it. We just want it back open, as soon as possible.'

Fellow customer Mick Mahoney is a member of the pub's darts team.

'In the past five years we have gone from the bottom to the top of the league and moving to another pub to play our home games is spoiling being at the top.

'Now, for our home games, we have to travel to the King of Prussia. We can't even have a drink as we have to drive to the nearest local pub.

'Meeting at the pub today is the first time I've seen some people in months as there is simply nowhere to meet.'

Nick Smith said: 'I am part of the big farming community in Bickington.

'Hunters and shooters used to meet up at The Toby Jug on a Saturday morning. The community aspect has completely disappeared, as there is no meeting place.'

Cllr Jeremy Christophers is spearheading the campaign to get the pub reopened.

'We are basically urging Heavitree to talk to us. The silence hasn't helped the situation. We have made our requirements very clear on what is best for our community.

'It is really frustrating to see it closed, but we are trying to be positive about the future of the pub.'

The action group will meet to discuss their next move on January 6.