The Save St Albans Pubs campaign is lobbying the government to reconsider a business rates rise.

The Boot’s Sean Hughes has said they would need to sell 60 more pints every day to pay for the rise.

The campaign has calculated 80 per cent of pubs in St Albans will see their rates rise by 72 per cent, which equals £27,000 a pub.

An increase Mr Hughes says will “directly impact tourism numbers and cause a loss to the city’s “priceless” heritage,

The petition, on the Parliament website, says: “St Albans has one of the most famous pub scenes in the world and the pub scene is wrapped in our local history.

“We are the home of CAMRA and home to the oldest pub in the country.

“Pubs not only employ local people, they are a community hub providing a meeting place, local entertainment and support our local farmers and suppliers.”

Visit petition.parliament.uk/petitions/183859 to find out more about the petition.