CENTRAL Devon MP Mel Stride, who chairs the influential House of Commons Treasury Select Committee, has warned that rural pubs still face serious challenges despite the relaxing of restrictions last month.

Pubs are no longer legally required to provide table service – which stretched bar staff significantly – and will soon benefit from staff being able to test daily rather than self-isolate if they come into contact with a Covid-19 case.

Mr Stride said: “Recent studies show that the combination of grants, loans and the furlough scheme have helped more than 99 per cent of pubs in the South West survive the impact of the pandemic. But the Government can only do so much.

“It is now down to communities to support their pubs, particularly in our smaller villages which may only have one or two. If they are lost, we may never get them back.”

Mr Stride made the comments during a visit to The Red Lion in Tedburn St Mary on Monday, August 2 which followed earlier discussions with the landlord of the Ring of Bells in North Bovey.