DRINKERS left in the dark after the sudden closure of a Leigh pub have welcomed news it will reopen.

The Carlton, in the Broadway, has not been open since the beginning of last week, leaving punters scratching their heads about what was going on.

But the closure is only a temporary measure, according to parent company Enterprise Inns.

Company spokeswoman Vicky Averis said it was looking for a new landlord, but did not explain why the old licensee had left.

She said: “The pub is closed, temporarily, but it is our aim to reopen it as soon as possible.

“We are looking to appoint a new licensee and if anyone is interested in this I would ask them to contact our team.”

The temporary closure followed the introduction of reduced opening hours around a month ago.

One Leigh resident, who asked not to be named, said: “One day, you’d walk past and it was open and on another day it would be closed, when it used to be open all the time.”

The news the pub has not called time for good will be a relief to many. The building has been operating as a public house since the late 1800s.

Leigh town councillor Peter Dolby said: “This is fantastic news for both those who use the pub and for Leigh.

“The Carlton is a traditional high street pub and it would have been very sad to lose it.”

To contact Enterprise Inns and find out more about running the Carlton, call 0800 9530072.