An Ilchester woman is desperately trying to rescue a plaque in memory of her mother from a former pub which has been taken over by a supermarket giant.
Sarah Feltham, 44, of Hermes Place, contacted the Western Gazette after learning The Picketty Witch, on Ilchester Road, Yeovil, is to be turned into a Tesco Express.
Work is expected to start as early as next month, with an expected opening date in spring or summer, Tesco said last month. The new store is expected to provide up to 20 jobs for the area.
Ms Feltham's late mother Ann Burt, of Yeovil, was a prolific darts player at the pub where a memorial plaque was hung as a tribute after she died suddenly in 2005 aged 66.
The plaque was erected by her team mates the following year and hung on the back wall next to the oche – the line behind which the darts players must stand.
Ms Feltham said: "We used to live on Ilchester Road just down from the pub and mum used to go after my dad passed away and joined the local darts team.
"I thought it was really nice that they did something to remember her.
"I would be over the moon if I got it back. It's very important as I don't want it to end up in a skip. I would hang it up or give it to my son.
"She was a wonderful mum and nan. Everyone who met her fell in love with her.
"She had a heart of gold and would do anything to help anyone."
Mrs Burt passed away seven years ago – one week after doctors discovered she had ovarian cancer.
A spokeswoman for Enterprise Inns, which owns The Picketty Witch, said the pub has already been leased to Tesco so they were unable to retrieve any items from the building.
She said fixtures and fittings were in place when the pub was handed over.
Melanie Chiswell, corporate affairs manager for Tesco, said they would endeavour to return the plaque if it was still in the pub. She said: "Our teams are going on site soon and we will check it's still there.
"If it is we will be more than happy to give it back.
"In the past when we've converted pubs, local people who wanted memorabilia from the pub have been more than welcome to what they want. If anybody wants anything from the pub, contact me at melanie.chiswell@uk.tesco.com."
