A CLOSED pub is set to rise from the ashes after being bought by an independent brewery.

The Old England Forever pub in Clayton-le-Moors has been taken over by Bolton-based Bank Top Brewery Estates.

The establishment, which shut last month, is set to undergo a full renovation, including new windows, a new toilet area and access at the back.

The company owns two other pubs in Horwich and Bolton and aims to reopen the Old The England Forever in February next year.

The pub will serve a range beers from its sister company, Bank Top Brewery,

Loren Skinner, who lives a few doors down from the pub in Church Street, said she was pleased to see the pub will reopen.

She said: "It was a great community pub and it was always a nice place to be when it was open.

"It always had a positive atmosphere and was never known for anything bad.

"It was also very handy only being down the road, it's not a long walk home."

James Rawlinson, another Church Street resident, said: "It used to be a fantastic pub so I'm very pleased it is opening again.

"It was always a great place to meet up.

"I can't for it to be open and busy once again."

Another Church Street resident said: "I don't drink but I'm glad a building like that is being used again.

"There was never any loud noise coming from it, it was never rowdy, it was a nice place."

David Sweeney, owner of Bank Top Brewery and co owner of the estates company, said: "We plan to keep the same name because pubs are one of the last Bastilles British people have and the name we think is very fitting towards that.

"We plan to keep it a traditional drinking pub, there won't be loud music, no Sky Sports, we don't plan to have bands playing.

"We want to keep it a great place for people to come, drink good quality ale and have a great conversation.

"We did a bit of trading with the pub's previous owners and when I knew it was closing I could not sleep, I knew we had to do something about it.

"We hope to open the pub in February, planning all the work goes well.

"The pub will get new windows, however we plan to preserve the windows with writing on them in some way."

Mark Briggs, the Lancashire Telegraph's beer expert, said: "Bank Top Brewery are helping to save our pub heritage.

"Dave brews traditional hand crafted beers that will go down well in Hyndburn."