RESIDENTS are crossing their fingers that their community pub could be resurrected.

Chimneys in Weeke closed its doors to regulars for the final time in February after it was sold to developers.

Devastated regulars vowed to fight to save the pub which had formed the heart of the close-knit community.

Now brewery giant Greene King has expressed a strong interest in transforming the pub in Stockbridge Road.

Chris Bevan, a roofer, of Fromond Road, said: "Greene King have stepped in as a white knight. They have visited the site and I have heard that they want to develop it into a pub-restaurant.

"We have got our fingers crossed that they will go all the way with it. It's given us reassurance and we have now got something to hope for. We haven't given up."

Winchester MP Mark Oaten has supported the campaigners. He said: "Unofficially we have been talking to the pub company who are keen to get into Winchester. I am cautiously optimistic. It's a good step forward but the longer this drags on, the longer the building will be run into the ground."

George Hollingbery, Winchester's prospective Tory parliamentary candidate, said: "If what the residents want is a pub and Greene King are prepared to take the financial and business risk, then fantastic."

The new owners, whose identity has never been revealed, ripped out the pub's interiors, boarded the windows up and fenced it off to the public the day after it closed.

They have still not submitted any applications to develop the site but residents have long-feared that they will try to demolish it to make way for more housing.

Winchester City Council has given the campaigners additional hope by stating that it would prefer to keep the building for use by the community.

In a letter to Mark Oaten, the council's chief executive, Simon Eden, wrote: "Any prospective (or current) owner inquiring about uses on the site will be informed that we would like to see community use maintained."

This would enable a company like Greene King to take over to run it as a pub again.

Chimneys was a favourite with families, with its indoor ball pit, gardens and play areas.