A petition asking South Norfolk Council to buy a village pub and transfer it to the community has been accepted at a council meeting.

Last night a full meeting of the council debated a petition asking for the authority to buy the Kings Head Inn in Pulham St Mary, near Diss, so it could then be transferred to residents to run it as a community asset.

The petition came after the owner of the boarded-up grade II-listed building, which has been closed since 2007, was denied permission to knock it down so 18 homes could be built on its site.

However, in a twist in the long- running saga it emerged Graham Scott has asked the council to buy the land in a process called a reverse compulsory purchase under the Town and Country Act 1990.

The petition was accepted and it was also agreed that the request by Mr Scott be concluded first by council officials before the petition is looked at. The petition was signed by 550 people.