A village pub has started up special candlelit evenings in a bid to save money on electric bills.

The Blue Vinny pub in Puddletown will turn the lights off on Tuesday evenings and instead flood the bar area with candlelight from more than 40 candles.

The decision was announced in a Facebook post which said: "With our electric bills along with cost rocketing, we have decided to turn off the lights!

"On a Tuesday night the bar lights will be turned off and evening service will be by candle light. We will be open as normal but just a little darker."

Dorset Echo: There's a romantic candlelit ambience at the Blue Vinny on Tuesday evenings as the Puddletown pub attempts to save money on electric bills

Landlord Roly Harries said a fire will also be lit to create a cosy ambience and raise awareness about the effect of the cost-of-living crisis for those in the hospitality industry.

"I was looking at all of the fuel bills and thought of the idea," Mr Harries said.

"Although it won't make a large amount of difference in terms of finance it will highlight everything that is going on with the cost of things and will show that we understand that we all have our backs against the wall."

Mr Harries, who has been at the helm of the Blue Vinny for 10 years along with his wife Helen, said he has been surprised at pubgoers' response to the idea.

"People really seem to like the idea of it. We were quite taken aback by the response. We are going to be creating a cosy feel to the bar.

"We've got certain things we have to do for safety like having the external lights on so no-one falls but we want people to know that on Tuesdays if it looks dark inside we are definitely still open, it's just our candlelit evening."

Dorset Echo: Landlord and landlady Roly and Helen Harries are holding candlelit evenings in pub the Blue Vinny on Tuesday evenings in a bid to save money on electric bills

A café in Glasgow has introduced a similar candlelit evening, Mr Harries, and it inspired him to do something similar.

Although the staffing levels at the Blue Vinny are normal and the pub remains open seven days a week, the business 'has been hit in every direction' by rising costs, Mr Harries said.

Mr Harries was born and bred in Puddletown, moved away, then later returned to the area to run the Blue Vinny.

He said the pub's food offering remains popular and the cosy candle evenings may even attract some romantic couples to dine on a Tuesday evening.

"It would definitely be a cosy night for two but I'm not quite sure how romantic it would be around Halloween time.

"The food is very well thought out here and everyone seems to like it. Hopefully local people will like what we are doing and will want to keep coming to the pub."