A fast-food eatery on the A11 which was boarded up eight years ago could reopen its doors as a roadside café and motorbike dealership.

Christine Thompson has spent six months transforming the former Burger King and Little Chef on the northbound carriageway at Besthorpe into a coffee and lunch spot worth pulling over for.

Since last August, she has battled to bring the site - which is described as having been left 'neglected and vandalised' on Breckland Council's planning website - up to scratch.

Now, she plans to open Route 11 Kitchen at the end of March, while Route 11 Motorcycles - which will sell bikes not readily available in Norfolk - waits for the final go-ahead from the council.

Mrs Thompson, who has been a biker for almost 40 years, said: 'We've had to almost start from scratch - when we first bought it someone had broken in and stolen the copper pipes, it was damp, there was damage.

'It's been expensive and has taken a long time, but we are getting there.'

The café will offer cooked breakfasts, light lunches and dinners and hopes to tempt in both passing trade and the motorbike community.

'There are some places that are reluctant to cater for bikers, which is a real shame,' she said, 'and we wanted to be somewhere that did.

'It's an ideal place to be - we are over the road from Besthorpe dirt track and near Snetterton. The A11 is also great for bikers as it is a major road and less likely to be subject to weather issues making it impassable on two wheels, so bikers can come her all year around.

'The biker community does need somewhere they can meet and talk.'

Each month, she will donate five per cent of the cafés daily takings to a local charity.

'The idea is to work with the local community and give back the community where we can,' she said. 'Our meat will be locally sourced and our butcher in Attleborough gets his meat from local farmers.'

Route 11 Kitchen is expected to open on March 21.

Do you have a story for us? Email lauren.cope@archant.co.uk