A TINY hamlet with huge determination is only £20,000 away from saving their local pub.

And campaigners think they will do it with a special unique Christmas present – Gift Shares.

The Lowther Arms is in the heart of Mawbray, near Silloth, a place where only around 40 people are within walking distance of the pub.

Despite that, there is a determination to save their local and the group already has £230,000 in cash, pledges and loans towards the £250,000 cost of buying the Lowther Arms. And they want the money by Christmas.

Hopes were raised last month when the pub appeared to be sold. Owner Morven Anson said it was the first offer she had accepted in three years of trying to sell, “because it was from someone who wanted to run it as a pub”.

At the very last minute, however, the sale fell through and Mrs Anson was really disappointed.

“After three years we would really like to sell. The pub is back on the open market and it would be lovely if we could sell it to the community.”

The pub was closed in 2015 because of a lack of business. But when the owners applied to turn it into a residence, the community rallied to keep their local.

Planning permission for a residence was denied and the local parish council, Holme St Cuthbert, applied to make the Lowther Arms a community asset which gave villagers time to organise.

The Lowther Arms Community Project’s (LACP) bid is gaining momentum, organisers say. The £20,000 needed to reach their first goal would enable the group to buy the pub for the community, pay for fees and surveys, and simply re-open it.

Chairman Chris Atkinson said: “Ideally we need to reach our maximum target of £300,000 which will pay for refurbishment, open the café and shop, restore the caravan site at the rear and upgrade the electric car charging point. These extra facilities will provide essential services for the community and the additional income will help ensure the pub is sustainable in the long term.”

The group has organised sponsorship deals which give free meeting rooms and a crate of beer and wine or a beer and wine tasting evening depending on the amount of sponsorship.

The Christmas gift of the year, however, is “Gift Shares”.

“The minimum investment is £100 and it’s easy to do – simply go to our website share page www.thelowtherarms.co.uk/buy-shares, complete the application form, and then pay by bank transfer or cheque. You’ll then receive a Shares Gift Card in the post to give to the recipient.”