Attempts to turn a village pub into homes look set to finally find favour with planners.

Two previous applications, one of which involved bulldozing the First and Last in Ormesby St Margaret and adding a terrace of ten homes, have been refused.

The latest bid from Elizabeth Holdings involves converting the pub and adding three cottage-style bungalows and garages.

Geoff Freeman, an Ormesby parish councillor, who opposed the scheme said they had 'tried everything' to save it, but that the battle looked lost.

He said: 'There is nothing we can do now.

'At the end of the day I do not believe that planning permission should be given because the business has failed.

'It is a prime site in the area. We desperately need a restaurant/pub type of facility with all the development taking place at Pointers East.

'It would have been a wonderful village asset.

'Coming into the village there should have been something pretty outstanding and I think that the old pub was.'

Since the pub shut five years ago some have rejected claims that it was unviable and that no-one wanted to take it on.

An effort was also made to have it listed as a community asset.

However according to papers being presented to the development control committee tonight the heritage elements and character have been sufficiently addressed.

It says: 'The designs are of a better quality and the retention of the main building of the public house reduces the loss of local character and heritage.'

Elsewhere it states: 'This proposal retains the existing pub frontage which is both attractive and a good feature to the street scene.'

Officers are recommending that members approve the plans.

Comments were received from seven members of the public and the results of a questionnaire circulated locally showed support for the pub.

The meeting takes place at Great Yarmouth town hall in the council chamber at 6.30pm.