Eleven months ago she was too young to drink in a pub, but now 18-year-old Fiona Foster is running her own.

Fiona and her husband John, 21, took over the Old Star in Steeton this week and are planning a grand opening tonight.

Although neither of them has worked in a pub before, they are determined that hard graft and determination will reap rewards.

John, a trained chef, worked at Steeton Hall, where the couple met and held their wedding reception.

Fiona is an entertainments agent in Burnley and will continue with that full-time post as well as taking on her landlady role.

She said: "We came in here all the time before and knew everyone here. Sid Dearden (the previous owner) was talking to us and said he was selling up and John said: why don't we buy it?"

Her husband added: "I have always wanted a pub and we got handed this opportunity.

"We had a bit of difficulty with the banks, because of our age I think, but our parents came to our rescue and helped us."

She might be the youngest landlady in the area but Fiona can't claim to be the youngest in the country - a woman in Lancashire received a pub for her 18th birthday.

Fiona says she's up to the challenge.

"It's going to be very difficult to begin with but we are both lively, outgoing people.

"We get on well with everyone and are not afraid of hard work," she said.

"A lot of the people who come in here are my age. I went to school with them and I know what they are looking for in a pub."

John and Fiona are both used to doing two jobs and long shifts and say their enthusiasm and energy will see them through the difficult times.

They will be helped by their families and by Sid Dearden, who is showing them the ropes.

The couple are not intending to introduce many changes at first, but are hoping in the long-term to bring in more entertainment and real ales.

They say the customers are a good mix of young people and the more mature and they hope to keep this combination going.