THERE was a Commons call for urgent action yesterday as MPs demanded moves to “Save the Great British Pub”, after alarming figures revealed 169 had been lost across the region in just four years.

Five government ministers were grilled on why more and more pubs are being forced out of business, in a growing crisis many are comparing to the closure of local post offices.

Big hikes in alcohol tax are blamed for the closures, although cut-price drink in supermarkets, extra costs to tackle binge drinking, greedy pub companies and the smoking ban are also pinpointed.

A glimmer of hope was offered by ministers. Pubs could enjoy lower business rates if they can prove they are “centres of the community”, under proposals set out yesterday.

And planning rules could be toughened to prevent struggling pubs being easily bulldozed for housing estates or other changes of use.

But ministers denied hikes in tax were responsible for an alarming surge in pub closures.

MPs released detailed figures revealing the Parliamentary constituencies of the 4,271 pubs that have closed since the general election of 2005, at a rate of 22 every week.

The hardest-hit seat is Liverpool Riverside, which includes the city centre. It has lost 48 pubs and bars in four years.

Also suffering are Birkenhead (down 20), Liverpool Garston (down 14), and Liverpool Walton (down 10).

Ian Garnon, regional director of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), said ministers like Wallasey MP Angela Eagle, who was at yesterday’s summit, should be ashamed.