A HOTEL at the centre of an unprecedented community campaign is in discussions to reopen its bar and restaurant, six months after its neighbourhood mourned the final pint being pulled.

The bar and catering facilities at the White Horse Hotel, in Darlington, closed last autumn. Managers blamed dwindling trade.

The hotel sector of the business was kept open, but the site had planning permission for apartments, and people living in the area had been expecting the business to close this year.

Last December, community members who had fought the closure and proposed demolition of the hotel gave up the fight.

The Save the White Horse group accepted it would be only a matter of time before the landmark building was replaced by homes.

However, yesterday it emerged there could be yet another twist in the saga.

A spokesman for the hotel confirmed that it was in talks with a third party to reopen the bar and restaurant, but said nothing would be finalised until the middle of next month.

The spokesman said that the site had not been sold for homes yet and that discussions were ongoing.

Although the bar at the White Horse closed in the September, the hotel was kept running. At first it was planned to close it around the Christmas period, but it is still operating.

The hotel debate sparked a passionate campaign in the area.

In January last year, the Save the White Horse group forced a parish referendum - with 400 people voting, 391 of whom were against the demolition of the pub.

Since then, there have been many "reprieves" for the pub, but last night, the owner and manager were keeping their cards close to their chests.

A spokesman said: "Discussions are going on about reopening. Nothing has been finalised. It hasn't been sold, but it could still happen."

An application to convert the hotel into 55 apartments was approved by Darlington Borough Council last year.

Yesterday, Mark Burton, who runs website www.harrow gatehill.co.uk, said: "I would like to appeal to local people to put their time, effort and perhaps a bit of money into using the place."