COMMUNITY campaigners who battled for two years to save their local have been honoured with an award.

Members of the Gussage Community Benefit Society were handed the Dorset Community Action 'people's project' prize at a ceremony in late September.

The committee launched campaign Save the Drovers after the inn in Gussage All Saints was closed without warning in November 2014.

The pub was finally saved from development in March this year.

It was initially sold to a buyer who planned to turn it into a private house.

However, villagers mounted a spirited counter-campaign, and the plans were refused by East Dorset District Council in June last year.

Residents then formed a group dedicated to saving the venue, and the sale was completed earlier this year.

The Gussage Community Benefit Society, which now owns the pub, then launched a major refurbishment to get it ready for the pub’s official reopening, which took place in July.

Society secretary Sally Marlow said: "When our only pub was suddenly closed and subjected to a change of use planning application in late 2014, we faced losing the heart and soul of our community."

She said what happened next is "testament to the drive and determination" of locals.

"It took 20 months and a huge amount of work from the committee and the army of volunteers," Sally added.

"The People’s Project Award is a very welcome recognition of everyone’s commitment and hard work.

"We have our community hub back, local youngsters have gained employment, the rural economy is benefitting through local micro-breweries and suppliers and the pub is providing a draw for recreational visitors and tourists who are enjoying the beautiful Dorset countryside."

Work to date has included replacing the old roof tiles with Spanish slate, rebuilding and relining the chimneys, installing woodburning stoves in both bars, decorating room inside the building and refurbishing the thatch roof.