People in Oaksey have been given a say in the future of their village pub which has served the community for 700 years.

The village’s only tavern The Wheatsheaf has now been listed as an Asset of Community Value.

The decision by the Malmesbury Area Board followed a move by the parish council amid concerns that The Wheatsheaf could go the way of other rural pubs and be converted into homes.

Such a scenario would be a disaster for Oaksey, said the parish council. Having The Wheatsheaf registered as an Asset of Community Value now gives villagers the first option to buy the pub, should it close.

More than a decade ago Oaksey became the first village in Wiltshire to buy and run their local shop as a community co-operative.

For eight years The Wheatsheaf was run by Tony Robson-Burrell who transformed it into an award-winning food establishment, acquiring two AA Rosettes for six consecutive years.

But two years ago Mr Robson-Burrell moved to New Zealand and there have since been a number of tenants.

Two months ago the pub re-opened under the new management of Nick Leith and Jan Bird.

Yesterday Mr Leith said: “We’ve been open eight weeks and it’s been fantastic.

“The people here have really supported us. They love the pub and it’s obviously very important to them.”

However, the vagaries of the economic climate and continual closure of pubs throughout the country – especially in rural areas – prompted the parish council to take action.

Oaksey Parish Council chairman Richard Moody said: “There has been an inn on this site for over 700 years and the Wheatsheaf is therefore a very important feature of our community in Oaksey.

“Over the last two years we have been concerned that the pub has had a number of different tenants and the owners have sold pubs in nearby villages.

“Registering the Wheatsheaf as a community asset will give us the opportunity to try to put together a bid if the freehold were ever to come onto the market.

“With a heritage like that we feel we have a duty to preserve the use of this building for future generations.”