Regulars at the New Inn, in Skipton Old Road, were left confused when the pub shut without notice at the beginning of this month.

A spokesman for Thwaites Brewery said the licensee of more than a year, Donna Lunt, decided to terminate her contract due to her partner's ill health. Barry Shepherd, who ran the pub alongside Miss Lunt, worked there for more than 10 years and was the former licensee.

Thwaites said: "Barry's suffered from ill health and has had two strokes. The last few months have taken its toll and they got out suddenly."

The spokesman added he was hopeful the pub would reopen in the coming weeks. He said: "I'm 95% sure some existing tenants from another pub, who are not local, will be taking over. It's too nice of a pub to just get anyone in, so it needs to be the right people and hopefully these are the right people."

He said Miss Lunt, from Barnoldswick, and Mr Shepherd, who has been a customer at the New Inn since his teens, had moved to Earby.

Pubs still open in the village are the Hare and Hounds and Foulridge Social Club, with the Hole in the Wall showing no signs of reopening since its tenants departed last year.