Residents should have greater opportunities to save local pubs and other vital community assets, the commons communities and local government select committee has urged.

A report issued by the panel of MPs today calls on the Government to strengthen four of its community rights and give local people a greater say on what happens to the buildings, services and land in their area, to build community housing and shape local services.

The committee found the Government's community rights programme had enjoyed mixed results since its introduction two years ago, with half of all community bids to buy community assets – using the community right to bid to list local properties – unsuccessful.