AFTER 12 years making friends, dispensing pints and raising money for charity Brian and Carol Washington from The Woodman Inn in Bridport are calling time.

Mr Washington, 56, said it was just time to move on and the pub was being put on the market for an asking price of £420,00.

He said: "We have had 12, happy, successful years here.

"But it is time to move on because the grandchildren are growing up so fast we want to spend a bit of time with them.

"This is a 24/7 business and we want to take time out and enjoy life a bit more.

The couple will be staying around Bridport with their children and five grandchild living in and around the town.

Mr Washington said they had been thinking about the move for some time and they were aware the pub, which is a free house, could take some time to sell but when it does they will take a little time to decide what they want to do next.

He added: "Rather than people gossip and second guess we thought we would let people now what we are planning.

"It is a proper family-owned independent free house, one of the few left in Bridport and it is one of the oldest in Bridport apparently.

"It will give somebody a good income if they are prepared to put the effort into it.

"We are not going away under a cloud but with our heads up high because what we have achieved here quite fantastic."

The couple worked for Wadworths brewery to get their training before taking on their own pub after having worked variously as chauffeur, cook, in a car factory, on the railroads and for the council.

Mr Washington said deciding to go into the pub trade happened in their 40s and was a bit like their mid-life crisis.

He added: "We were both from Oxford rather than talking about running a business we decided to actually do it and found the Woodman, It was quite run down and in a poor state but we saw an opportunity to live in a dream part of the world

"It was fantastic from day one I wouldn't have changed anything it has been a real roller coaster of enjoyment and fun.

"We also raised it must be around £40,000 for charity over the years."

The pub is for sale through Stonesmith, licensed property sellers.