FROM Happy Hour to Old Red Eyes Is Back, the sights and sounds of the English pub have never been far from Paul Heaton's inspiration.

Now, the former singer with Hull bands The Housemartins and The Beautiful South is set to get on his bike to help save the country's traditional alehouses.

As part of the Pedals And Beer Pumps Tour, he will drop into The White Horse in Hutton Cranswick, near Driffield, to play a concert later this year.

The gig is among his plans to travel 1,000 miles across England combining two British pastimes – cycling and drinking beer.

Mr Heaton said: "I am looking forward to pedalling around the country to promote cycling and the British pub.

"Both are very close to my heart. I have been cycling all my life and the British pub has provided most of my favourite stop-off points.

"It saddens me to hear about so many pubs closing on a weekly basis, so I want to do all I can to get people back to their local."

Figures released by the British Beer and Pub Association show 39 pubs closed every week last year. A total of 2,365 pubs shut their doors, with the loss of 24,000 jobs.

Industry experts have said cheap supermarket booze and the smoking ban have contributed to the demise of the pub.

Since The Beautiful South split in 2007 "due to musical similarities", Mr Heaton has been forging a solo career.

During the band's 18 years at the top they recorded many top 10 singles, including Song For Whoever, Don't Marry Her, Rotterdam and Perfect 10.

Mr Heaton's latest tour comes after he made an appeal via The Publican, the newspaper of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), and Facebook to see where fans wanted to see him play.

He will begin his journey in May, setting off with a quick half from the most famous pub in the UK – Coronation Street's The Rovers Return in Manchester.

Mr Heaton will be followed by his band and touring team, who will also be staying in the places they encounter along the way.

The tour will take him from Lancashire, through Surrey and on to London.

He will then start to make his way back up north finishing in Chorlton, Greater Manchester.

Of the 912 suggested pubs he chose 16 and will play songs from his new solo album, which he is recording at the moment, and his back catalogue.

Alan Canvess, chairman of Hull and East Yorkshire Camra, said: "Anything that encourages people back into pubs has to be a good thing."

The Hutton Cranswick gig will take place on May 20.

Tickets are priced £15 and go on sale from 9am this morning from the websites below or in person from the pub.