THE Pear Tree in Whitley has been listed as community asset to help preserve its place in the Melksham village.

It means owners Punch Taverns will have to let Wiltshire Council know if they intend to sell it following fears earlier this year that the much-loved pub, previously run by chef Marco Pierre-White, could be developed into something else other than a pub after closing last August.

It will remain on the council's Asset of Community Value list until March 2020 after an application to register it was submitted in January.

If it is put on the market a community group will also have six months to be considered as a potential bidder.

Punch Taverns said they hoping to have the pub re-opened next month and were in advanced stages of negotiations. The company are also in the process of refurbishing it.