Chairman of Fovant parish council Nigel Knowles (centre) with Pembroke Arms landlord Tony Weston and protesting villagers, on Saturday morning. DA4740P1A LARGE group of Fovant villagers braved the cold on Saturday morning to show their support for sacked Pembroke Arms manager Tony Weston.

Mr Weston was joined by more than 40 people, including members of the darts and cribbage teams, and the quiz league, who met regularly at the pub until its closure on January 7.

They held placards with the words 'We're ready to roll - Pembroke Arms Action Group', 'Local jobs for local people - we give a quality service', and 'Pembroke Arms darts team says a closed pub stops play - reopen now'.

The Journal reported last week that the pub, which is the headquarters of the Fovant Badges Society and houses the World War I museum, had been closed by owners Tony and Eileen Crooks.

But the couple insisted this was only temporary and the premises would be reopening on February 7 under new manager Jan Trevett, who was interviewing existing staff with a view to their staying on.

Mr Weston, a retired police officer and experienced landlord, remains devastated at the loss of his job and home.

At Saturday's gathering, Nigel Knowles, chairman of Fovant parish council, said: "We are here to demonstrate our sympathy for Tony Weston and his staff.

"We do not think it right that people who had been working hard and have done a good job should be dismissed.

"This is a physical demonstration of the village's commitment to our pub and our desire for it to continue as a pub for the community, its darts teams, cribbage teams and for quiz nights, because they keep alive the spirit of the village.

"We will continue to use the pub so long as we can."

He added that the parish council was concerned that Mr Weston was not the first manager to have been dismissed and the premises had been temporarily closed before.

Brian Smith plays crib and takes part in the quiz night.

"Now we haven't got a place to go," he said.

Andrew Cain lives in Shaftesbury, but says he has chosen to go to the Pembroke Arms for the last 25 years to play darts.

Steve Mitchell has been playing there for a similar period and said the closure had meant the team had had to play elsewhere.

"It's on the verge of breaking up," he said.

"The landlord has always kept the teams going, but we have not seen one as good as Tony Weston."

Mr Crooks repeated that he had no intention of selling the pub and that it would reopen on February 7 with a "grand reopening celebration". A new carvery was currently being installed.

He agreed Mr Weston was not the first manager he had taken on, but said previous managers had not proved satisfactory from his point of view.

He said Mr Weston had been dismissed because he "could not fulfil the job description".

"There are sound management reasons as to why Mr Weston was dismissed," he said.

"I cannot say more than that because of reasons of confidentiality between employer and employee."

He added: "I have had a most intrusive and offensive letter from the parish council about something which is nothing to do with them at all."