AN award-winning rural pub which was saved by a community group and then featured in a television documentary is going under the hammer.

Owners Christine and Dick Strike believe the time is right to leave The Greyhound Inn in Grizebeck, which has served fine ale and food for more than 300 years.

Back in February 2009, local residents began juggling their day jobs and family commitments to take over running the pub for a documentary on satellite channel Blighty, winning the traditional business of the year from the Countryside Alliance.

But after a proposed sale fell through in September, The Strikes had to move back in, with the community group no longer able to sustain its interest.

Mrs Strike said: “We had no choice but to come back, which was not what we wanted.

"My husband has just had spinal surgery so cannot do any of the manual labour.

“The market isn’t good at the moment so we thought, ‘let’s see what we get at auction’.”

The pair have run the pub for eight years and say that in that time the smoking ban and rising costs have affected the business.

“It needs someone who can put in the time and interest and get it it back running to full speed again.

"They will make a good business out of it based on the tourist trade.”

The auction takes place at the pub on Wednesday, April 6, from 6pm. There is a guide price of £275,000.