The pub is the first to stock the paper and the move has resulted from the closure of the village shop which previously sold newspapers.

But Whitby Gazette readers in Egton don’t need to buy a pint to get their paper.

Nigel Pulling, who has owned The Wheatsheaf along with his wife Elaine for eight years, said: “Anyone who wants to order newspapers including the Sunday ones should let me know and I’ll get them and they can pick them up from here.

“The same goes for bread from Stonehouse Bakery. If they order it from me on Tuesdays before noon I’ll get it delivered on Wednesdays and the same goes for Thursdays for Friday delivery.

“It’s better for me to do it than for everyone to be clogging up the road to Grosmont especially in the summer when there’s all the holiday traffic and we’ll go on doing it until hopefully we get a shop again in the village.”

The general shop in Egton also sold petrol, was a newsagent’s and a post office.

A similar village shop in Danby has also closed – in both cases the post office business was crucial to their viability.

But Mulgrave Estate may step into the breach in Egton.

Estate agent John Hoyes told the Gazette: “The Mulgrave Estate is fully committed to supporting the local community and we were very sorry at the closure of the village shop.

“A high quality local produce outlet is one of many things we are considering.”