Campaigners are attempting to use planning laws to save a much-loved pub from becoming a supermarket.

The freeholder of The Wheatsheaf, in Upper Tooting Road, Tooting, has expressed intentions to sell the venue.

Many suspected the site would become a Tesco, but a spokesman for the supermarket confirmed on Tuesday it has no plans to buy the pub.

Since the news broke more than 7,900 people signed a petition to save it, while a Tooting Wheatsheaf Supporters group was set up.

Campaigners are now hoping to get the pub listed as a community asset, which would mean campaigners can make a bid for the freehold when it is put up for sale.

A review meeting with Wandsworth Council is set to take place on August 15.

MP Sadiq Khan and the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) plan to write to the chief executive of Wandsworth Council, Paul Martin, calling on the council to use an Article 4 Direction.

This would allow the council to rule on any potential change of use.

Mr Khan said: "Tescos may not be the threat now but the next step to save this much-loved local is to make sure Wandsworth Council takes the action needed to stop another retailer or supermarket giant easily taking over the Wheatsheaf."

Dan Watkins, chairman of Tooting Wheatsheaf Supporters, said: "It is a pub that is successful, it somehow conspires it is on the market to be bought by a non pub operator.

"No wonder so many people feel so strongly about it."

Fleur Anderson, a campaigner who lives in Tooting, said: "The Wheatsheaf has been my local for as long as I’ve lived in Tooting.

"We are really lucky to have such a great pub on our doorstep, full of friendly faces and community spirit. It would be terrible if we lost it."

A meeting is taking place this Sunday which is being lead by Dale Ingram, CAMRA pubs protection officer, in The Selkirk, Selkirk Road, from 7.30pm.

Mrs Ingram will be offering campaigning tips on how campaigners can secure the future of Wheatsheaf and the Trafalgar Arms, which also recently closed.

A campaign meeting is taking place on July 30 at 7.30pm in The Wheatsheaf.