Hopes that a landmark village pub could be saved as a community asset have been dashed.

The First and Last, in Ormesby St Margaret, has been empty for several years, its dilapidated state drawing concerns.

A bid to demolish the building, which stands at the entrance to the village, and add a terrace of homes was rejected by planners earlier in the year.

It was followed by a second application for four homes, which also failed.

Meanwhile the parish council hoped that turning it into a community asset would fend off advances from developers and re-kindle interest from pub operators who had reportedly been interested in the site.

However Geoff Freeman, chairman of Ormesby with Scratby Parish Council, told members that the effort had been unsuccessful.

'The building has got into a total state. People who looked at the site initially are going to look at it now and say it is too far gone.

'There are going to be 200 houses built down the road. It is very disappointing.'

After the meeting Mr Freeman said: 'They have now had two planning applications turned down. What is going to happen now?'

The potential of the development at Pointers East would be a boost to the site, he said, adding that he understood a potential buyer was still interested in running it as a restaurant/pub.

In a statement, Great Yarmouth Borough Council said: 'A nomination from Camra to register the First and Last Pub, in Ormesby, was not successful.

'Whilst the asset has had, in the recent past, community use and its social use was more than ancillary, it is unrealistic to think that there will be a social use of the asset within the next five years due to the unfavourable operating conditions for its return to use as a public house, no identified community need for alternative community use and the condition of the property which requires significant work to return it to a suitable condition for community use.'