THE owners of a country pub which has closed its doors for the second time in six months have appealed for someone to take it over.

Ei Publican Partnerships - formerly Enterprise Inns - owns The Lamb at Winkton,near Christchurch.

It shut on Sunday after tenants Tracey and Geoff Brawn admitted defeat just four months after taking on the pub.

A spokesperson for Ei Publican Partnerships said: “We would like to reassure the local community that we aim to reopen the Lamb, Winkton, as soon as possible, following the recruitment of new publicans.

"If anyone is interested in taking on the fantastic opportunity of this well-invested pub, please contact our recruitment hotline on 03333 200036."

Tracey and Geoff, who successfully run The White Hart in Poulner and the Crown Tap in Ringwood, blamed poor weather for the failure of the venture.

They opened in late September last year, offering a new menu and a spruced-up bar area, but Tracey said: "We really wanted it to work but it just hasn't."