HIGH running costs are thought to be behind the closure of a popular public house at Upper Chute, on the Wiltshire-Hamp-shire border.

The pub, the Cross Keys closed its doors on Friday. But it was already being stripped of its pub furniture on Monday.

A notice on the door directs pub-goers to the Hatchet, which is about a mile away.

The closure has dismayed some villagers who held a meeting attended by 60 people to discuss ways of keeping the pub open.

David Stokoe, who lives in the village, said the pub was a well known and well used facility.

"It would appear that not only are the people of Andover and its surrounding area under resourced in terms of entertainment and facilities in the town centre they are also in danger of losing facilities when they go out for some relaxation in the country," he said.

For the full story see Friday's Andover Advertiser