Villagers have toasted a regional daily newspaper after it helped save their last remaining pub from closure.

When the King’s Arms in Shouldham, Norfolk, closed down, villagers launched a campaign to buy it, with the backing of the Eastern Daily Press.

EDP editor Nigel Pickover chaired two charity pub quiz nights as part of the fundraising effort while Stephen Fry tweeted his support to his 7m-plus Twitter followers.

Eventually with the help of the Archant-owned title, the villagers raised the £150,000 needed which, together with a series of grants, was enough to purchase the pub.

EDP editor Nigel Pickover, right, and campaign chairman John McGourty with the special edition of the paper.

The West Norfolk hamlet its very own special edition of the EDP – headlined ‘We did it!’ printed to commemorate the re-opening earlier this month.

Said Nigel: “We were thrilled to bits for Shouldham and everyone who took part in the campaign.  We were honoured to be able to support them on something which mattered so much for their community.”

People from as far as Hong Kong bought shares in the community co-op launched to buy the boozer.

They raised £150,000, with grants from the Department of Communities and Local Government, Pub is the Hub and the Geoffrey Watling Charity covering the rest of the £225,000 needed for the freehold.

John McGourty, who chaired SOKA, thanked the EDP for its support at the pub’s official re-opening night.

“The pub was our last one left in the village and a beautiful building, and part of heritage that should be protected,” he said.