UKIP’s deputy leader Paul Nuttall will raise a glass to campaigners in Sedgley who are fighting to save a popular pub from closure.

The MEP will be paying a special visit to the Seven Stars pub, tomorrow (Thursday), to lend his support to the ongoing community-led campaign.

During his visit Mr Nuttall will speak about the ongoing problem of pub closures across the UK and the trend which is seeing public houses being bulldozed to make way for convenience stores.

He will be joined at the Gospel End Road pub by West Midlands MEP and Sedgley ward councillor Bill Etheridge, who has supported the campaign to stop Morrisons from turning the Seven Stars into an "M" convenience store.

Mr Nuttall said: “I am very much looking forward to visiting the Seven Stars.

"My message will be ‘save the pubs’.

“The great British pub has been the beating heart of our country for centuries. - it is a tradition.”

His visit will be followed with an early Christmas bash, boasting live music and a DJ from 6.30pm.

The party, which is free to attend, has been organised by Cllr Etheridge to ensure locals have a festive celebration and show “supermarket scrooges” at Morrisons that they “will not take Christmas from the popular public house”.

Cllr Etheridge added: “This is about having a great time while saying bah humbug to Morrisons and Marston’s who want to close the Seven Stars and replace it with a convenience store.

“I urge as many people as possible to come along to the party on Thursday evening.

"It’s about bringing the community together in a true community asset.”