REAL ale enthusiasts in the district are backing a national campaign promoting pubs as community assets.

The Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), which is staging the month-long initiative, says well-run hostelries are as important to communities as shops and post offices.

And it said the central role played made it even more vital that a national decline in pub numbers, which is currently seeing an average of 29 shutting every week, was halted.

“Pubs are unique in their ability to bring together all sides of a community in one single welcoming environment,” said Tim Page, for Camra.

“A well-run pub that engages with its community – whether that is via charity events, family fun days, live music or quizzes – will not only help itself to remain popular and profitable, but will be viewed as something of real value to locals.”

Keighley & Craven CAMRA said its members campaigned throughout the year on behalf of all pubs in the area.

A spokesman said: “A community pub is what every individual pub-goer makes of it."

“The Keighley area offers as many great community-friendly pubs as anywhere else in the country.”