AN OXFORDSHIRE village has seen its only pub brought back to life by a greengrocer from Oxford.

The Extraordinary Hare in West Hendred, formerly the Hare, closed in July last year but has now been brought back from the dead by Botley greengrocer Peter Durham.

He bought the pub so that his two daughters could inherit a family business without having to become greengrocers.

Mr Durham, 59, who also previously ran the Harcourt Arms, in Stanton Harcourt, said: “I wanted a change of career. I have two daughters, Alice, 10, and Emily, eight. It was for them and hospitality is a nice industry.”

Bar manager Sandy Waters was previously working in the Black Swan in Abingdon and is now living at the Hare, in Reading Road.

She said: “It looks nice and the locals are starting to come in now which is great. Everybody I have met has been lovely.”

The pub serves food as well as drink.