LICENSEE Susan Cooke proved a last minute saviour when she stepped in at the 11th hour to save her local from imminent closure.

Mrs Cooke swapped supermarket shelves for pulling pints when she and her husband, Howard, took the reins at the Hole House pub, in Burnley Road, Blackburn.

The couple made the switch when they heard the former landlady was moving out.

And within hours of finding it had become vacant, Susan, 36, who lived only 250 yards away, applied for the job.

She said: "It was a bit impulsive but I woke up the next morning and thought 'why don't I go for it'. We'd always fancied it -- especially for when Howard retires.

"I spoke to the area manager of the company and they were brilliant -- I got a decision the same day, gave up my supermarket job and we moved in less than a week later.

"We saw a real danger of the pub closing -- which could have been a very sad loss for the community round here. It's a lovely cosy place with a nice atmosphere and great beer. The regulars are like a family unit.

"There is huge potential and I can't wait to build up a food operation, a function room and the beer garden."