Plans to save Milverton's Globe Inn by bringing it under community ownership have moved a step closer after its owners prepare to put the pub up for sale.

With owners Mark and Adele Tarry moving on from the business after 17 years, fears were sparked that the village could lose its last remaining pub.

In an effort to save The Globe, residents canvassed their neighbours on proposals to buy out the business as a community.

Of 500 people polled, 123 returned a response, with 105 saying they would support the move.

Chaired by resident William Waddington, a group has been formed, and with The Globe soon to be on the open market, they are set to register their interest as potential buyers.

Mr Waddington said: "We would become a potential buyer for the Globe along with other interested parties. Of course a buyer may simply want to carry on running the Globe as a pub.

"Others might want to convert it into flats. I understand that in the latter case that would be very difficult to achieve. I repeat it is this group’s intention to turn the Globe into a pub for all the community.

"As to timings that it is entirely up to Mark and Adele. But we have to be ready to react as soon as the Globe is put up for sale. There is an enormous amount of work to do. Everything from deciding upon the legal entity that we will need to buy the Globe, to understand how it will eventually look and feel, if we are successful in purchasing it."

The resident's group consider the community takeover of the New Inn at Halse as an inspiration for the move. The New Inn was taken over by the Halse community during the Covid pandemic in 2022 after almost 200 locals bought shares in the pub.

The New Inn has since seen a community cafe opened, which is regularly used by dozens of groups and clubs for get togethers.

In the same vein Milverton residents hope that The Globe can be retained as a community hub, providing a space for local groups and local people to gather. Mr Waddington added: "For me this is an emotional decision. Milverton without its pub - unthinkable .

"I fully appreciate I might not receive a penny return on my investment, but I will have been delighted in playing my part in helping to keep an essential part of the village running. This has to be a major community effort to ensure The Globe stays open. If Halse can do it so can we."