Britain's Prince Charles is trying to save village pubs in Wales. The 60-year-old royal is supporting the Pub Is The Hub scheme, a project that encourages small pubs to open their doors to the community.

The scheme will be trialed in Denbighshire, North Wales, where suitable pubs will host everything from local post offices and shops to crčches, arts and craft centers and religious study groups.

Landlords who agree to participate in the project will be given Welsh Assembly grants worth $300,000 to refurbish their premises. On average, three Welsh pubs close a week. Pub Is The Hub aims to help those who are struggling by making them integral to the community and if the trial is successful, it will be expanded across Wales.

The prince set up the scheme in 2001 and 350 pubs are currently taking part across England. He told trial organizer Helen Roberts, from rural development agency Cadwyn Clwyd, he would be watching the trial closely.

Roberts said: "We want the village pub to be at the heart of the community. Where appropriate we want to encourage people to use the pub as a meeting place and also perhaps as a grocer, a newsagent, launderette - even a collection point for doctors' prescriptions or a venue for the local mother and toddler group."

"Many pubs are under threat and we want to get the community involved as well as the landlords in thinking about what they can do to save the local pub."