After 14 years the long-serving landlords of a village pub which has been the heart of its community will be calling last orders for one final time.

The Fox and Hounds Inn in Cattistock is to be put up on the market after husband and wife, Scott and Liz Flight, move on as its landlords on April 11.

Scott said that although he has loved running the village pub, he has cited wanting a better 'work-life balance' to spend more time with family and to raise two children as the couple's main reason for leaving.

On their time running the pub, Scott said: "It's been great. We love the the village and we have made it our home. We moved from Gloucestershire in 2008 and thanks to the support from the community it has been absolutely brilliant.

"It's sad it's coming to an end, but we are also excited for the future.

"The last few years have been difficult for everyone but thanks to our amazing staff we pulled through."

Palmers Brewery owns the pub and will be looking to find new tenants for the Fox and Hounds Inn to take over. Without new custodians the pub will have to close until a suitable landlord can be found.

Scott described the award-winning pub as 'very traditional' and said he was 'quietly confident' that the brewery could find someone to run the pub.

He added: "I think they will find someone. It's important they get the the right sort of people who will make the village their home.

"We're staying in Cattistock, so it's also in our interest that they get nice tenants because we'll still want to come and visit."

Tenanted trade director for Palmers Brewery, Jim Jones, said: "Palmers Brewery are the owners of the Fox and Hounds in Cattistock and Liz and Scott have been our tenants for nearly 14 years.

"During that time they have been running a very popular and successful pub serving both the local community and the many visitors to the area some of whom stay in the letting rooms.

"Liz and Scott have now decided to move on and we are in the process of identifying a new licensee. In the interim, the brewery are planning to use the time between any licensees to upgrade the facilities so that the pub can provide an even better environment going forward.

"As one of the company’s important trading outlets, the brewery is keen to ensure any disruption is kept to a minimum and will work with the local community to ensure the future of the pub for everyone’s benefit."