An ambitious businesswoman is hoping to use her artistic flair to breathe fresh life into a market town pub.

Claire Evans will reopen the Kings Arms in Swaffham under a new guise later this month.

The former director of an engineering firm in Great Yarmouth took the opportunity to take over the establishment when it was put up for sale by Melanie Shaw-Sutton.

Once a coaching inn in the 1600s, the pub has been closed since the summer.

Miss Evans, who is investing a 'sizeable amount' into the venue plans to open it as a vintage-style cafe by day and gastro-pub in the evening.

Further down the line, she plans to reopen the restaurant, upstairs ballroom and to reinstate the bed and breakfast accommodation.

Miss Evans, 40, who has moved from Gorleston to Swaffham for the new venture and has a background in fashion design, said: 'I like running businesses whether starting from scratch or already established, I like challenges really. I've never run a pub before so it's all a big learning curve.'

The pub, which will reopen as the Kings Arms Coaching Inn, dates back to 1608.

It features a Georgian ballroom upstairs which Miss Evans plans to reopen as a function room.

The reopening will create about 10 job opportunities.

Are you breathing new life into a currently closed pub? Email kate.scotter@archant.co.uk