A BID by residents to buy the only pub in their village is at risk amid fears that the group behind the plan may not be able to raise enough money.

Villagers in Hudswell, near Richmond, are determined to buy the George and Dragon pub, saying that the heart has been lost from the community since it closed over a year ago.

The group behind the purchase plan, Hudswell Community Pub Ltd, have agreed to buy the pub from its current owners for £209,000, although they are aiming to raise £220,000 for refurbishment.

However, despite donations reaching £100,000 from 62 people, and pledges totalling £76,000 from a further 65 people, the group are still £44,000 away from their target.

Paul Cullen, chairman of the community pub group said: "We have agreed a deadline with the owner of the end of this month to achieve £220,000, and at the moment we are still £44,000 short of this. It will be a terrible shame if we can't make it."

Due to the funding shortfall the directors have called a special general meeting of all 135 members of the community pub group on Sunday, February 7 at 6.30pm in Hudswell Village Hall.

The members will be asked to decide whether to take advantage of a £20,000 loan and £5,000 grant offered by the Yorkshire Key Fund, and whether to change the rule on the proportion of members who must be Hudswell residents, in order to allow more investment from supporters who do no live in the village.

Mr Cullen said: ""We had hoped that we could raise all the funds we need from investors, but it looks as if we may not quite get there.

"The loan is being offered on good terms, but as we had not planned to borrow any funds, we feel we need the consent of the membership to do so. Of course, if we can get some more supporters to invest during this next week, we will not need to do so."

To request a prospectus detailing the purchase and plans visit Richmond.org/community/hudswellpub/index.html or call Martin Booth on 01748-824204 or Paul Cullen on 01748-824379.