Another Norwich pub is set to make way for housing, after the landlord reluctantly shut up shop after 20 years in charge.

As previously reporterd in the Evening News, Paul Waller, pictured right, landlord of the Duke of Connaught in Livingstone Street, off Dereham Road, closed the watering hole on New Year's Eve.

He said the pub has now been stripped out, with all the contents sold at auction, and he was in the process of signing the papers to allow builders to knock it down – which could be in a few weeks' time.

He already has planning permission to demolish the pub and build four houses on the site.

The pub dates back to 1879, but the original building was destroyed by enemy action in April 1942. Today's bungalow-style building was built in 1954.

Mr Waller, who is 60 in October, said it was a sad day, but he would not have been able to keep running the pub in today's economic climate. He said: 'I always planned to leave when I retired, but I'll now be retiring a bit early.

'It would have been nice to sell it as a pub, but there's no way anyone is going to buy a pub like this now. I could not afford to be here this year, as the money coming in would not have covered the costs going out. For the last six months I used to walk outside the pub waiting for people to come in.

'We're a backstreet pub, so people have to come to us and that's probably why we fell by the wayside. It is sad that another pub has closed and there were lots of tears on the last night.'

Mr Waller said he planned to stay on in the house next to the pub for the time being.

The Evening News has been urging punters to return to pubs throughout our Love your Local campaign.

To see more stories from the campaign visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/loveyourlocal.

Have you got a pub story for the Evening News? Call David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk.