The owner of a south Norfolk hotel insisted that there were no plans to close the venue, despite submitting an application to turn it back into a home.

The listed Gissing Hall, near Diss, has been welcoming paying guests for more than 20 years and is a popular place for weddings.

The owners of the 19th century building, William and Ann Brennan, moved to reassure customers after submitting plans to return the country house to a private home.

An application submitted to South Norfolk Council proposes to turn the hall in Upper Street, Gissing, into a 'single residence with associated gardens and outbuildings'.

However, Mr Brennan said the move was just a 'precautionary measure' and the couple had no immediate plans to close the hall and people with bookings had no cause to be concerned.

'It is a false alarm. Quite a few of our wedding clients rang up a bit worried, but it is not as it might appear.

'We are going on and we are even taking Christmas party bookings at the moment. In the long term, it is an option,' he said.

The hotel and wedding venue received a visit from Ruth Watson and the television cameras last year for the Channel 4 show Country House Rescue, which is due to be aired in the autumn.

Mr Brennan added that they were following the advice of the hotelier and television presenter by focusing on the wedding side of their business.