A POP-up pub is to open in a village where the local hostelry closed three months ago.

Operator Becky Wright is running the facility in the village hall at West Bagborough, where the landlords called time at The Rising Sun last October.

Ms Wright, who has been producing her own Dryad Gin since last summer, already runs a pop-up pub in Broomfield.

As well as her gin, the new pop-up pub will feature "lots of local ales, local wine and cider".

Local producers and traders are being invited to take space when she opens in West Bagborough Village Hall on Friday, February 10, from 7pm to 10.30pm.

"After the Rising Sun closed, it felt like a good opportunity to bring the village together," said Ms Wright, who lives on the Quantock Hills near the village.

"The pop-up pub is about creating a space where people can come and have a drink, meet friends and get to know other villagers, as well as buying some vegetables or bring something along themselves they're selling in the village.

"I worry about rural isolation as pubs are closing. We need to think how we can keep that community going.

"If the pop-up pub is well-supported, we'll look at opening during the year ahead."

Ms Wright describes Dryad Gin, which is already proving popular in Somerset, as a "tree spirit" drink made with oak bark, cinnamon and orange peel, inspired by the ethereal spirits that guard the Quantock woodlands.

She said: "It's about inspiring the work in the Quantocks, to give honour to the oak trees and all the beauty up there.

"It also has a social purpose. I'm really excited about opening up in West Bagborough.

"We have a good team of volunteers helping out at Broomfield, where we've been opening about once a month.

The gin is currently stocked at two restaurants - Podshavers, in Bishops Lydeard, and Augustus, in Taunton.

Among upcoming events there is a pub evening with a talk about love on Friday, February 17, with guests enjoying a glass of Dryad gin before and afterwards.

And a combined theatre and pub evening, featuring a performance by the Take Art Somerset Theatre Company, is taking place on Friday, March 17.

READ MORE: Rising Sun Inn closes in West Bagborough.