TWO landmark Altrincham pubs have closed - raising concerns from a group that campaigns for community hostelries.

The Orange Tree, on Old Market Place, locked its doors on Friday, just weeks after the shutters came down at the Bricklayers Arms, on George Street.

The Enterprise Inns pubs were under joint ownership - the licensee was Paul Cant and the pubs were run by Paul's partner, Di Hart, and Stef Lomax.

Di said they were 'devastated' to have to leave - but said although the pub was popular they could not make it pay. She explained a rent hike last September followed by a 4.8 per cent beer price increase meant "we could not struggle on any longer."

This week the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said it was another blow to the town's pub trade - bringing the total of pub and bar closures in Altrincham in recent years to 10.

Recently the Bridge Inn, on Moss Lane, was shut and it has been demolished to make way for a proposed £100m development on the Oakfield Road car park area.

Recently CAMRA published figures that showed that 16 pubs close in Britain every week.

The group says many community pubs have been hit by beer tax hikes and the large discounts on alcohol offered by supermarkets.

John O'Donnell, from CAMRA's Trafford and Hulme branch, said: "I am optimistic that the Orange Tree at least will reopen but the overall picture is that the pubs in Alltrincham are struggling.

"There are not many community pubs in Altrincham left to go, that is the concern.

"I am not confident Altrincham has a rosy future on the pub front."

He added: "CAMRA is lobbying Government to give more support to our traditional community pubs but action is needed now as closed pubs rarely re-open."

A regular in both the Orange Tree and the Bricklayers Arms said: "It is sad for the town to lose two pubs - how many more are going to close down?

"Di Hart was a very popular landlady and regulars are sorry to see her go."

A spokesman of Enterprise Inns said the company is recruiting for new publicans for the Orange Tree and the Bricklayers Arms. Anyone interested in becoming a publican should contact 0800 953 0072.