A PUB landlord ordered to install a new kitchen extraction fan system has reassured customers that he is not closing and will continue to serve ‘excellent’ food.

Liam Carberry, who runs the Plough in Long Wittenham with his partner Kim, has reassured his regulars this week after a story in the Oxford Mail about the works caused alarm.

The father-of-two explained that the pub was ordered to install the new extraction fan system by the Health and Safety Executive because the kitchen was so busy it needed to be upgraded to meet European standards.

Mr Carberry said: "Following the increased success of the pub, the kitchen was coming under increased pressure.

"The HSE visited the pub as it does annually and has requested that the extraction must be upgraded due to increase in volume of food cooked in the kitchen.

"Customers can be assured today and in the future that we will continue to serve excellent freshly cooked food from our kitchen."

The upgrade plans come after the Oxford Mail revealed on Saturday that a total of 135 pubs have closed across Oxfordshire since 2010 – 45 of them in South Oxfordshire where the Plough is located.

Mr Carberry reassured regulars that the Plough would not be closing, and thanked all their customers for their ongoing support for the 'essential community business'.