More than 100 people welcomed the reopening of Broadwindsor's village pub - and nearly drank it out of beer.

After an incredibly successful fundraising campaign and months of negotiations, The White Lion opened as a community-run pub, with people queuing through the village last Friday to get in.

The first customers were Adam Slater, who brought a pint of Palmers Tally Ho! And Mike Eltherington, who enjoyed a pint of Palmers Copper. The pub was even visited by a local well-known chef and publican.

Rick Dyke, chairman of the White Lion Management Committee, said: "It was an amazing success, we were absolutely delighted.

"We opened our doors at 6pm and there were already about 30 to 40 people queuing outside to come in, and we had well in excess of 100 customers during the opening night. It was a roaring success - so much so we actually ran out of some of our beer. When we ran out, we spoke to the New Inn in Stoke Abbot and they quite happily lent us some of their beer, so it's great that we can support each other."

Rick also stated that it was tinged with sadness as former chairman of the committee, David Leader, sadly died in March. He worked tirelessly to make it happen and was passionate about having creating a community pub.

His wife Elaine and children, Ryan and Rosie, ceremoniously cut the ribbon.

"This was the vision of David," added Rick, "so hopefully we have delivered something he would have been proud of, it's just such a great shame that he's not here to see it."

The pub has been open every night since opening and has continued to draw in the crowds and welcoming customers with their takeaway fish and chips from the van that visits the village each week. The pub is not yet serving food but hope it won't be too long before the kitchen is ready.

"It has been very well used, we've had good takings each night," said Rick.

"The team, our manager and daughters who are running it, they have been absolutely amazing. This is a new venture for them, they haven't been involved in running a pub before. A lovely quote I heard, 'at 6pm at opening time they were nervous newbies, but by 11pm on closing, they were seasoned professionals'. We know we've struck gold here with the people we've appointed."

And as well as a great atmosphere and it being a great success, the team has received numerous compliments on the new look pub.

Rick added: "We've had a cleaning company some in to do the cleaning and the comments were, 'wow, I've been in here to clean before but I almost don't recognise it', it's now fresh and bright."

The White Lion is open from 6pm to 11pm Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 11pm on Saturdays, and 12noon to 10.30pm on Sundays.

On Tuesday nights, the pub will not be serving food but customers are welcome to take in their fish and chips from Nat's can that comes to the village every week.

For more information and videos of the opening, visit Broadwindsor.org