VILLAGERS who step into their local at Horton Heath could be forgiven for seeing double.

For there are two landlords and two landladies behind the bar at The Lapstone.

Karen and Keith Gaskell and Tim and Evie Rood liked their local so much that they decided to buy it.

It was back in the autumn that they started talking about taking over the village inn, which dates back more than 200 years.

Karen, 45, and Keith, 47, have three children and Tim, 45, and Evie, 42, have two children, so running The Lapstone will be a real family affair.

Karen said: "We want it to be a real community pub where everyone is welcome."

Keith, who was a general manager in the automotive trade, already has experience of running licensed premises, having been landlord of a pub in Wigan.

For Tim, however, it is a complete career change. He was a dispensing optician - but now he will be dealing with a different type of optics.

Between pulling pints, Karen will continue in her role as co-ordinator of St Thomas Handshake to Kware Appeal, raising money for poverty-stricken residents of the Kware slums near Nairobi.

The Lapstone's new licencees will be making sure that the pub's fundraising spirits flow for the Kware appeal, as well as other charities.