A bid to ensure a Barrow landmark does not shut permanently is gathering pace.
The Ship Inn on Piel Island has closed, leaving fans of the famous pub in despair that it may not open again.
And supporters have now taken to an online petition in a bid to save the pub.
The organisers of the petition said: “We want to keep the Ship Inn on Piel Island a pub for everyone to enjoy.
“The Ship Inn has been a pub for 300 years and we would like to keep it that way for families to enjoy a good meal and refreshing drink.”
Geraldine Hartley, who has contributed to the petition, said: “The Inn and Piel Island is an amazing place for friends and family to come to.
“It should remain open for families to meet.”
Another supporter, Mike Butt, said: “I love Piel; it’s the jewel in the crown of this area.”
Ahead of Barrow Council’s latest full council meeting, Ann Thomson, the leader of the authority, said: “I can confirm that we have come to an early agreement for the current tenants of the Ship Inn to leave.
“This was at their request and we are in the process of finalising the detail.
“In the short term we will be looking to award a contract to an operator who can look after maintenance of the island and keep the pub safe, warm and dry as we work on plans to reopen Piel Island to visitors.
“Longer-term it is our ambition to find an operator who will run the pub and maintain the island in-line with the eco ambitions we shared earlier this year.
“Our ongoing goal is to ensure that Piel Island is open and safely accessible to both local visitors and tourists.
“The Ship Inn is, and for many years has been, at the heart of island life and there are no plans on our part to change that.”
