A FACEBOOK group has been created to gather support for a popular Orford pub landlord facing eviction.

Father-of-three Mark Moran, aged 40, says he has been giving eviction orders to leave the Blackburne Arms, Orford Green.

Enterprise Inns, which owns the pub, wants to bring in a new management team.

Mr Moran said he is opposing the decision after using his life savings to try and ‘turn the pub around’ since taking on the lease 18 months ago.

“The hardest part to swallow is I have put all my money into that pub, and now the brewery want to take it back off me.

“I have worked tirelessly to turn it around, and make it a nice community pub again.”

Mr Moran said an eviction notice was served by Enterprise Inns on July 4, with orders to leave by July 7.

He claims that no reason was given to him or wife Louise, as it is not required in a short term lease agreement.

Regulars have rallied around in support on Facebook, creating group ‘Friends of the Blackburne Arms’, with messages of support posted.

Mark Rutter said: “This pub has taken some turning around but at last it feels like our local again.

“Good atmosphere and crowd in there once again, and families returning on Sunday afternoons.”

Trudy Batty said: “Mark and Louise worked hard to get the Blacky running back into a family pub and it should stay that way instead of people taking over and spoiling the place for all.”

A spokesman for Enterprise Inns said it was not able to provide information on the dispute.