One woman is on a mission to save her local pub from turning into flats, and already has more than 500 people signed up to her campaign.

Morag McCall says The Lord Napier, Green Lane, Goodmayes – which is for sale – has facilities not available elsewhere and is good for the community.

She said it is the latest in a number of pubs which have been closed, or put up for sale, including The Cauliflower in High Road, Ilford, which was put on the market last week for offers in the region of £400,000.

Worried

An offer has been made on The Lord Napier, although the sale has not been completed yet, and regular Miss McCall says she is worried it will be turned into flats.

The captain of the pub’s pool team said: “There’s a lot of emotion when people find out the pub is being sold so I decided to start the petition. I’m a regular at the pub and it’s got a lot to offer different groups of all ages.”

“It would be a real loss as there are few pubs which offer the same facilities.”

She said pubs play an important role in the community and provide a way for people to foster community relations.

Miss McCall says the closure is the latest of many pubs which have been sold around the area including The Joker in Cameron Road, Seven Kings.

The Cauliflower has been put up for sale together with an 18 year lease still left on it, and is boasting a cellar, four floors and a car park, plus the potential to buy four freehold flats behind the pub.

Speaking about The Lord Napier, Miss McCall said: “People have said it’s going to close anyway but we can keep going and demonstrate how important it is to us.

To sign the petition and find out more, visit www.change.org/en-GB and search for The Lord Napier.