A popular pub in Hellesdon that has been closed for three months is set to reopen by the end of next month with a new landlord in charge, the Evening News can reveal.

The Bull shut its doors in April when then landlord Patrick Cutter quit after failing to reach an agreement with the owner, Enterprise Inns, about a rent review.

Since then, the Reepham Road pub has been targeted by vandals and Norwich North MP Chloe Smith, pictured, led a campaign to get it reopened as soon as possible.

Last month, she met Simon Townsend, the chief operating officer of Enterprise Inns, at Parliament to talk about the future of the Bull, and the company has now confirmed to her in a letter that it will be reopened by the end of August.

She said: 'I have been campaigning to see it reopen as a good, solid community pub, so I'm very pleased to have got this commitment from Enterprise, that it plans to reopen it.

'I would also like to wish the previous landlord all the best in whatever he chooses to do next.'

The news was also welcomed by Peter Balcombe, Broadland district councillor for Hellesdon.

He said: 'That's excellent news. Without it, Hellesdon had lost its centre.

'Patrick was a good landlord and I'm hoping that Enterprise will now be realistic about its expectations from the pub. We are in a very difficult economic environment, so I don't think that anyone who takes it on will make huge profits there. I'm sure local people will use it.'

Meanwhile, Mr Cutter, who had been landlord for 13 years before his departure, said yesterday that he was looking for a new job, possibly as a brewer's rep.

He said: 'I genuinely wish the people who take it on the best of luck.

'The pub is a facility for the community and is what the people of Hellesdon need.'

An Enterprise Inns spokesman confirmed that the pub would reopen before the end of next month.

The Evening News has been urging customers to help pubs in our Love your Local campaign.

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

If you have a pubs story, call David Bale on 01603 772427 or email david.bale2@archant.co.uk