Mine hosts Paul and Sherran Mitchell have been given 21 days' notice to leave The Grouse Inn at Silsden.

The couple have been told by the owners of the tenancy it is 'not financially viable' for the couple to remain.

Mr Mitchell says: "The pub was picking up financially and all of a sudden they have told us we have got 21 days' notice. We have only been here 12 weeks - I feel absolutely sick about it."

To take on The Grouse, the family had to move to Silsden from Wyke, Bradford. Their nine-year-old son had to change schools and their daughter commutes every day to her Bradford school.

Mr Mitchell says: "I don't really know what we'll do - 21 days is not a lot of time to find somewhere to live and work."

He claims that the pub was full to bursting on Saturday night, when they held their first live music evening.

"After 12 weeks, we're just getting to know people - we thought we were doing OK," he adds.

Enterprise Inns plc owns the pub, but is not directly responsible for the tenancy.

Regional manager, Howard Hollingworth states that the firm can do nothing to help the Mitchells.

He says: "We have a tenant who runs three or four pubs and they obviously put managers in. If they put a tenant in and they turn out to be not what they want for the pub, they can tell them to leave."

Many regulars plan to start a petition to keep the Mitchells behind the bar.

Caroline Webster, of Wood-side Road says: "They have taken a lot of time to get customers back in and they're a lovely couple."

Colin Quinn, a member of Silsden parish council, pledges to add his signature to a petition, saying: "They have done an excellent job since they've been there and they had to start off at the very bottom."

Regulars were last night due to hold a meeting.

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