THE REGULARS of a Blackpool pub are giving a brewery both barrels in a bid to stop their landlord being moved on.

Customers at the No 4 on Newton Drive are so against landlord Bobby Woods being transferred to a Liverpool pub that they've started a petition calling on Thwaites Brewery to let him stay.

"When Bobby came along and said he was moving we were all quite upset about it," said regular Julia Boyes, petition organiser.

"The pub was in such a bad way when he took over. He's worked hard to get it right over all these years.

"We're worried that someone else might get in and not care about the locals again."

Regulars credit Bobby, and his wife June, with successfully seeing off a 'bad element' that had been giving the pub a bad name.

During their four years at the No 4, Bobby and June have also set up a much-loved golf society, and pool and darts clubs for regulars.

And customers say that the time just isn't right for Thwaites to move their landlord.

Bobby himself explained: "The wife's father who's been living with us had a serious stroke, and we have only just found him a home on Newton Drive, just down the road. Now we're looking for another home for him, so it's a bit of a worry."

The couple's 18-year-old son Michael is more than two years into an apprenticeship with a local firm and doesn't want to move. And his brother Robert, 20, wants to stay as well.

"The decision came out of the blue. The wife and myself are devastated," Bobby said.

"I was delighted when I heard the customers are not happy with the decision that's been made. It's nice to know you have got that kind of support."

The No 4 petition, already 200 signatures strong, will be sent off to the brewery next week.

But Bobby, who has been a landlord for 17 years, is expecting to be moved to his new pub at Little Bebington in January.

" A job in a pub isn't normal work, it's a way of life," he said.

"It's just sad that you get settled and sorted and then, bingo!, you've got to move again."