CAMPAIGNERS who helped save a landmark Cradley Heath pub from having a supermarket built on its car park have been honoured with a national award.

The Friends of Haden Cross spent years battling with site owners New River Retail over the company’s plans to build a Co-op store on the land.

And the group’s successful efforts have now been rewarded after they were named as a bronze winner in the CAMRA Pub Saving Awards 2017.

Tim Haskey, chairman of the friends group, said: “We are thrilled to hear the efforts of the local community have been rewarded in this manner.

“Whilst the winner and runner up were very worthy rural campaigns, ours showed that pubs in urban areas are equally as important to the communities they serve.”

A presenation at the pub is set to take place at 8pm on Monday (January 8) where the friends group will be handed their certificate by Dudley and South Staffs CAMRA. All are welcome.​

The friends group was formed in response to New River’s plans and worked in partnership with Sandwell Council to make the pub and its surrounds an Asset of Community Value, meaning it would prevent any development without full planning permission.

The group felt like they made a real breakthrough when New River’s asset managing arm ‘LT Management’ agreed a tenancy deal with local publicans Stan and Karl Gardner, who also run The Waterfall and The Bell and Bear.

The father and son duo have made some significant changes to the pub during a period of refurbishment at the end of 2017.

Jim Mumford, the group’s vice chairman, added: “Since its recent refurbishment by new tenants Stan and Karl and under the management of Matt and his team, the Haden Cross is a thriving real ale pub, run by real people, growing from strength to strength.

“This would not have happened if the community had not remained strong and fought hard, together with the support of Sandwell Council and local politicians.”

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris called the friends group a “real inspiration” to those who want to make a difference in their local community.