A Bradford landlady who took on her first pub at 64 has hailed the community spirit of her regulars as a key reason for its survival.

Licensee Lesley Florence began running The Fire Brigade Tavern, in Southfield Lane, 18 months ago, in the depths of the global economic crisis and knew she was in a battle to keep it open from the start.

The Telegraph & Argus revealed this week that six struggling pubs in the area are up for sale by management company Deepclear, while the London Town group has gone into administration, leaving the futures of ten more Bradford pubs in limbo.

The Fire Brigade Tavern shut for three months at the start of 2008, but Mrs Florence stepped in to ensure her local reopened.

To keep business competitive, she encouraged a football team to be set up at the pub, called Great Horton Athletic, and introduced weekly discos and a quiz.

“I worked here for several years. It shut down and was in a right state, and I wasn’t going to allow it,” she said.

“It’s my local and I’m passionate about this pub.”

The pub is leased by Chester-based Admiral Taverns, which is looking to reduce her rent, Mrs Florence says.

She also hailed the efforts of some of her customers who occasionally volunteer to man the pumps.

“It’s a community pub and they don’t want it to shut.”

Pub goer Paula O’Neill, 47, said she was happy to help out when called upon.

Mrs Florence said pubs were struggling because customers were spending less, minimum drinks prices were dictated by how much pubs paid for their supplies, the changing demographic of pub customers and the affects of the smoking ban. The Telegraph & Argus would like to clarify that a glassing attack involving two men on May 15 did not occur inside The Fire Brigade Tavern as previously stated. The incident took place outside the premises in Southfield Lane.