Regulars at a Hellesdon pub which has been closed for almost five months are celebrating after the popular inn reopened its doors.

The Bull shut in April when then landlord Patrick Cutter quit after failing to reach an agreement with owners Enterprise Inns over a rent review.

Since then, the Reepham Road pub was targeted by vandals and Norwich North MP Chloe Smith led a campaign to get it reopened as soon as possible following talks with the owners.

The pub reopened for business on Thursday with Recovery Inns leasing the pub from Enterprise Inns as part of a deal to try and bring the good times back to the boozer.

Edward Scott, operations director for Recovery Inns, said: 'We've reopened the pub.

'We've taken the pub on and we've got to turn it around, get the food going and hopefully get it back to where it was originally.

'There's quite a fair bit of sorting out to do – we didn't get the keys until Tuesday. What we plan to do is get it up and running and get it back to its former glory, which we've done on several occasions before.'

The Evening News contacted Enterprise Inns, but no-one was available for comment.

The reopening of the Bull is the second boost for pubs in Hellesdon in just a matter of weeks after the Falcon, also owned by Enterprise Inns, opened again last month.

The Falcon, in Cromer Road, was boarded up earlier this year, prompting fears it could close and leave Hellesdon with just one pub, The Whiffler, following the closure of The Bull in April and The Firs last year.

But the closure was only temporary, to allow an upgrade to take place. Speaking last month, a spokesman for Enterprise Inns said: 'After we've done a refurbishment internally and externally, and got a new publican, it's due to open on July 30.'

The closure of The Bull and The Falcon followed the closure of The Firs last year, which opened as a Tesco Express store in April.

The Evening News has been urging customers to support pubs as part of our Love Your Local campaign. For more stories or to find out more visit www.eveningnews24.co.uk/ loveyourlocal.

Have you got a story for the Love Your Local campaign? Call reporter Peter Walsh on 01603 772436 or email peter.walsh@archant.co.uk