RESIDENTS fear for the future of their local pub after its new owners put it up for sale.

Locals were looking forward to The Chequers Inn, in Headington Quarry, Oxford, reopening.

Owners Scottish and Newcastle found new tenants at the beginning of November.

The pub, which has been closed since the start of the year, is expected to reopen - but the brewery has also put the property on the market for £550,000.

Locals fear the building will end up being bought by a property developer for conversion to flats.

Richard Bradley, who lives next to the pub and is a member of the Friends of Quarry residents' group, was surprised when the 'for sale' sign went up.

He said: "We were all looking forward to the pub reopening under the new management and were surprised when we saw it was up for sale.

"Friends of Quarry are worried that it will be bought up and turned into flats, changing the appearance of the building."

Mr Bradley said the local community would not object to the building being converted into a single house.

He said: "Many people I have spoken to would love to see it open as a gastro pub.

"No-one would mind it being converted into a private residence with one house."

Quarry resident Jack Ponsonby was disappointed at the decision to sell.

He said: "They are just giving up before they have even given it a chance to get up and running again.

"I would love to see someone come in there now and really have a go at making it a great pub again."

The brewery press officer Lucy Hall said: "The decision has been taken to sell the Chequers Inn because the pub does not fit with the company's long term business strategy.

"We will be giving the new lessees every support we can with the Chequers while the pub is for sale."