WINCHESTER MP Mark Oaten has backed villagers fighting to save a Twyford pub.

Liberal Democrat Mr Oaten met campaigners at the Bugle Inn in High Street, which was boarded up in July.

About 25 members of the Save The Bugle Action Group, launched in a response to a bid to build houses on the site, gathered outside the pub on Friday to discuss its future with Mr Oaten.

Mr Oaten said: "In a village like Twyford a pub is more than just a pub, it's part of the community and we should reject housing on the site."

He told campaigners he would lean on representatives of the licensed trade to see if a buyer for the pub could be found.

"There may just be a white knight out there," he added.

In August the Inntown Pub Company, which owns The Bugle, put in plans to build ten new homes on the site.

The plans were sent back due to lack of information.