ONE of Bury's historic country inns has been nominated for an award which aims to highlight pubs at the heart of local life.

The Hare and Hounds in Bolton Road, Holcombe Brook, which is run by Joseph and Kathryn Bleacher, has already played a great part in the local community by holding various fund-raising activities.

They includeg staging a mock "kidnap" of the Mayor of Bury to raise cash for a new playground at Holcombe Brook Primary School and the Mayor's charity.

The Mayor was held "hostage" in the Hare and Hounds as letters were sent out to local businesses demanding "ransoms" for the "release" of Councillor Neville Singer.

This particular event was excellent fun and a big success, raising over £1000.

The pub has also held a Guinness Book Of Records Night, a vintage car show and an abseil event.

Sponsors of the Community Pub Of The Year Award - the Brewers and Licensed Retailers Association in conjunction with the pub trade magazine The Licensee and Morning Advertiser -will give £10,000 to the winning pub's nominated charity or community project.

Director of the BLRA, Robin Simpson, said: "Each year, pubs raise more than £60 million for charities and local community projects but they also provide help and support in many other ways.

"This award is intended to give recognition to the vital role pubs play at the heart of their own communities.

"We are not looking for the pub which has raised the most money but the pub where the customers and licensees have contributed the most in terms of voluntary effort, ingenuity and care for a real local cause or charity."

The judges of the award will include actor Richard Thorp who is better known as Alan Turner, landlord of the Woolpack in Yorkshire Television's hit soap, Emmerdale.

The winner will be announced at the Licensee Trade Awards night in London on May 1.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.