A 300-year-old pub in a south Bucks village is set to close at the end of this month, and could be turned into housing, leaving the 800-strong community without anywhere to go.

The Red Lion, in Knotty Green, near Beaconsfield, has been listed on estate agent Savills’ website as being under offer, and the description says it has “residential (C3) conversion/ developmental potential”.

However, it has been listed as an asset of community value (ACV) by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) which means any change of use must be given planning permission before it can go ahead.

A campaign has been launched to save the historic pub, which a support group says needs to remain as the “centre of the community”, and fears it will be converted into housing.

The group says the closure will leave Knotty Green “without a friendly pub” and will remove “the last place for the local community to meet, greet, eat, drink and talk”.

The pub, which has connections to Enid Blyton, is currently run by temporary owner Liz Scowen, and her husband, who says it has been bought by developers and will close at the end of January.

She said: “It is quite sad because it has quite a big, loyal following. The customers are very upset about it.

“There is nowhere else for the locals to go. There is another pub a mile down the road but it is quite a dangerous road – you couldn’t really walk there, especially at night.”

Liz and her husband took over the pub, which is owned by Punch Taverns, after much-loved former landlady Tina Massie and her TV producer husband Bob announced they were stepping down after 11 years.

She added: “It is sad for us because we have built it up. [Although] we are not shocked because we knew it would happen eventually.

“I feel sad because we have got to know the people here.

“It is a real shame if it doesn’t continue to be a pub. That’s the saddest thing about it.”

It is the last commercial concern in the small village and is also the meeting point of many social clubs within the Knotty Green community. It was named the Best Community Pub in London and the south East in August 2015.

For more information about the campaign, go to http://redlionknottygreen.co.uk.

What do you think about the plans? Have your say by emailing bfpletters@london.newsquest.co.uk.