TRADITIONAL pubs in High Wycombe are no longer pulling pints as drinking houses continue to shut in the area.

Nationally there have been more than 2,000 closures in the last three years with around 56 closing each month. Now one reader is calling on drinkers to come together and try to preserve the history of pubs as The Magpie, in Heath End Road, Flackwell Heath and the Halfway House in London Road, High Wycombe have been boarded up - by keeping other locals busy.

Gordon Smith, of Churchill Avenue, Aylesbury, said: "I'm not a great drinker, but I do like the old, historic pubs in the Wycombe area and it is a shame so many are closing.

"The problem is the land is worth more to builders and developers if they build half-a-dozen houses on the land, than have just one pub.

"It would be nice if we could have a campaign by the people of Wycombe to save as many of these old buildings as possible before they all disappear.

"We may not be able to prevent the demolition of all these pubs but we should at least try to preserve the history of these pubs."

Mr Smith also used the Studley Arms in Studley Green, and the Friend at Hand in West Wycombe Road, as other examples.

A number of pubs have also now opened up as restaurants as part of their usual business.

Jette Peddie is coordinator for the Wycombe Watch Scheme, which aims to reduce crime in the area by working with the council and the police.

She said: "Most people seem concerned with there being too many pubs, but I am sure there are a lot of people worried about the traditional pubs that are closing."

Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) is a voluntary group with more than 85,000 members that campaigns for real ale, traditional pubs and consumer rights.

Iain Loe, spokesman for the CAMRA, said: "When a pub closes, it often takes around six months to a year for the planning permission to go through, which means that for all that time it remains close.

"They may even be reopened as a pub again. Often this is when pubs are bought by bigger companies and usually it is the smaller ones which are closed.

"But with the right owner, smaller pubs can still be a big success."