Pubs in St Albans facing the looming threat of sharply rising business rates are clubbing together to oppose the move.

Campaigners say that 80 per cent of St Albans pubs face a business rate hike of 72 per cent – amounting to an average increase of £27,000 per year.

READ MORE: Rising rates could close half of St Albans' pubs, warns landlord

An online petition opposing the rise has so far attracted nearly 2,500 signatures.

The petition on the Parliament website says the “unaffordable” increase will lead to “severe job losses and pub closures”.

It calls for the Government to give additional rate relief to local authorities to ensure the continuation of local pubs.

“St Albans has one of the most famous pub scenes in the world, and the pub scene is wrapped in our local history,” it adds.

“We are the home of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) 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 farmers and suppliers.

“If these rate increases go ahead, we will lose our independent pubs and destroy a huge part of our history.”

Sean Hughes, 35, who manages both The Boot and The Kings Arms in the city, is worried that the sharp increase in business rates will lead to pub closures, job losses and a rise in the price of a pint.

“There have been a lot of closures in the last year and this is only going to make it worse. We could lose 50 per cent of our pubs over the next five years – that’s just crazy,” he said.