UK pubs closed at a rate of 52 per week in the first half of the year - a third more than the same period in 2008 - the British Beer & Pub Association said. Local pubs were the most vulnerable as communities were hit by the fallout of the economic downturn, it added. The research suggested businesses that provided food were far more resilient to the recession. And branded pubs and cafe-style bars were opening at a rate of two a week, according to the report. "Pubs are already diversifying, but unfortunately if you are a community pub, you can't transform yourself into a trendy town-centre bar," said an association spokesman. "The biggest impact is the recession. There are fewer people out and fewer people spending money in pubs and bars, regardless of where they are," he said. On Tuesday, two MPs tabled a motion in the House of Commons, urging their colleagues to "support their local pubs". Liberal Democrat MP Greg Mulholland and Labour's Lynne Jones said the pub industry was "hugely important to the British tourist trade". Source: BBC