A village's last pub has been declared a community asset.

Campaigners hope to raise £300,000 to buy the Crown Inn at Northwold, near Thetford, when its owners retire. They already have pledges totalling £50,000.

Now the pub has been listed as an asset of community value by West Norfolk council.

That means that in the event of a sale, local people must be given time to raise money to mount a bid for the premises.

Save the Crown Inn's Mark Vanderstay said: 'That's obviously good news for our community but what has not been highlighted so far is why this is good news for the current owners also.

'It gives the community the right to bid and - perhaps more importantly - the time to prepare for the bid and raise funds.'

Mr Vanderstay said the campaign had increased awareness that the pub was for sale and had also highlighted that the owners were likely to get ther best price for it by selling to the community.