Campaigners fighting against the continued closure of a pub have staged a protest to warn its owners: “locals want pubs, not developers”.

The Dartmouth Arms in York Rise, Dartmouth Park, has been shut since January to allow building works to go ahead to convert its upper floors into flats.

Owners Faucet Inn allegedly pledged to re-open the pub after 16 weeks but the deadline has long since passed and neighbours say no works have started.

It prompted residents armed with signs emblazoned with protest slogans to hold a “grand non-reopening” outside the pub last Wednesday.

Highgate councillor Oliver Lewis, who is leading a campaign to protect the pub from further development, said: “The locals and community were really sending a message that they are not going to accept the closure of the pub.”