An empty public house has been given special building status to stop it being sold and turned into another business or housing.

The Red Cow, on the corner of Star Road and Amersham Road, has been empty for the past few months and now has a for sale sign at the front of the property.

The Reading and Mid Berkshire branch of the real ale and pub campaigners CAMRA applied to Reading Borough Council for it to be given the status of Asset of Community Value, which was granted.

The status on the Grade II listed building helps protect the future of the pub to protect it from demolition or change of use.

A spokesman for CAMRA said he now hopes that a buyer can be found who will keep the property open as a thriving and popular, community pub which will be used by local drinkers and perhaps some new customers from further afield. He added: "We would also like to see a good selection of Real Ales available including some from local brewers, although saving the pub is more important than the products at this stage.

"The Red Cow is an attractive cottage-style pub which is now surrounded by new housing so there should be enough trade to make it a viable business.

"We are very pleased that the Council has agreed with our views of The Red Cow and has therefore granted the ACV which lasts for 5 years and we look forward to the day when the pub re-opens and we can all enjoy the unique atmosphere and charm of this lovely old building."

CAMRA is actively trying to save pubs all over the country and the use of an Asset of Community Value is one of the ways we are being reasonably successful in this fight - although many more are closing by the day.

An example of where pubs are being turned into other uses includes a pub just a few hundred metres away when the nearby The Star pub closed converted into a mini supermarket. Other pubs that have been turned into shops includes The Maiden Over in Maiden Erleigh, that is set to become a Tesco and The Queens Arms in Goring.

In Theale residents asked for the asset status to be applied and West Berkshire Council then rejected two planning applications for housing.

The Red Lion in Theale where the local community have applied for an ACV after West Berkshire Council rejected two planning applications for housing. CAMRA in Reading have also secured ACV’s for The Retreat St.Johns Steet, The Eldon Arms, Eldon Terrace, The Three Tuns, Wokingham Road, The Foresters Arms, Brunswick Street and The Jolly Anglers, Kennetside.