South Yorkshire has been badly hit by a wave of pub closures, according to a report published by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Between September and March, 17 pubs were closed in the region, a rate of almost three a month.

According to CAMRA research, among 55,000 pubs in the UK 12 pubs are closed every week. Eight of them are in suburban areas and four of them are in rural areas.

Jon Howard, CAMRA's press manager, said the increase on beer taxes is the main - but not only reason - for these closures.

He said "Last couple of years has seen high rates of beer tax imposed by the government and also supermarkets continue to sell alcohol very very cheaply, and so unfortunately hard working licencees can't compete against supermarket deals and therefore many consumers are drinking at home rather than in the confines of the local pub."

Petition

As part of the campaign 33,000 consumers have signed a beer tax Government e-petition as new figures have shown, that 300 community pubs have closed in just 6 months.

Mike Benner, CAMRA Chief Executive, said: "Whether situated in a small village, city high street, or on the edge of a housing estate, pubs are so central to our society that whole communities can grow around a particular pub.

"A threat to the future of traditional pubs is therefore also a threat to countless social groups within Britain that thrive because of their local.

"Unsustainable beer tax increases by the Government are ripping the heart out of community centres, but with over 33,000 consumers  having recently signed the beer tax e-petition, beer drinkers and pub goers are actively voicing their discontent.

"CAMRA is now campaigning to secure 100,000 signatures, which would force Parliament to debate above inflation rises in beer duty."