Its incessant ringing has drawn puzzled looks and national press attention.

But an alarm which has been going off in Lowestoft for five days has led to an unexpected positive outcome after a potential new restaurant tenant came forward.

The fire alarm at the former Poundstretchers shop on the corner of Milton Road East and London Road North had been going off since being triggered on Friday afternoon.

It had been switched off by 9am on Wednesday morning after it was put on the market by the landlord.

The surprising fame of the building, which was given publicity on Jeremy Vine's Radio 2 show, has led to a potential new restaurant for the town.

Estate agent Danny Steel, who is managing the property for the landlord, said in the day since the property was put up for lease there has already been interest to make it a restaurant from an unknown potential tenant.

Mr Steel said: 'It is an old building, it has been empty for quite a while. It requires quite a bit of work doing to it.

'But, ironically, I put my for lease boards in the window this morning and we have already had a phone call from somebody who is interested in turning it into a restaurant.'

However, the building suffers from dilapidation and a need of refurbishment before a new business can open and has had issues with security since it shut two years ago.

Drug paraphernalia including needles and pill packets were found in the rear store room of the building, with a bed and sleeping bags inside the out-building behind the shop.

The former Poundstretcher shop on London Road North has been empty for more than two years, but after the landlord put the shop back on the market, the estate agent was able to gain access to the building and switch the alarm off on Wednesday morning.

The ringing stopped at around 8.55am on Wednesday, having reportedly been triggered by a man being on the roof.

It was also confirmed the alarm triggered was the building's fire alarm and that the building is owned by a property developer.

William Belton, treasurer at North Lowestoft United Reformed Church, which is opposite the empty store, said the constant ringing had been an 'irritation' for passers-by over the weekend.