People in Thorpe St Andrew should not have to wait too long for a popular pub to reopen – after it was taken over by the landlady of two other Norwich area bars.

As reported, the Griffin pub, in Yarmouth Road, closed earlier this month following the resignation of its landlord, Matthew Harris, eight years after he took over the reins from his father, who died in a tragic accident.

The pub has now been taken over by Dawn Baillie, who also runs the Boundary pub, in Aylsham Road, and is joint landlady at the Walnut Tree Shades in the city centre.

Ms Baillie said: 'I'll get a manager in to run the pub. At present it's been stripped down and there's no furniture in there.

'We are in there cleaning it and looking for a source for furniture.

'I've not got a clue yet how long this is all going to take, but it should not be that long before it can reopen, and definitely before the end of the year.'

All of the three pubs that Miss Baillie runs are owned by pub company Enterprise Inns.

She added: 'If they wanted me to run this one as well, then I cannot be doing that badly.'

Mr Harris, pictured right, took over the running of the Griffin pub after his dad, John, was killed when he was pinned between a coach and an HGV trailer in the car park of the pub in July 2003.

The coach belonged to Mr Harris senior, who also ran a business called Griffin Travel, from the site.

Matthew, a father-of-three, ran the Enterprise Inns-owned pub with his sister Nicola and in 2005 applied for a 24-hour licence to give him the scope to open the premises later on occasions.

But the pub closed after he agreed to quit the business by 'mutual agreement' with Enterprise.

He said he would take a break, but has not ruled out the possibility of returning to a pub in either Thorpe or Norwich in the future.

The Evening News has urged people to support local pubs through our Love Your Local campaign.

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

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