A PUB in the heart of Banbury that has lain abandoned for more than 12 months is finally set to be demolished in the coming year.

The Admiral Holland, which was built in 1960, closed its doors in December 2015 and gas was disconnected in July 2016 to prevent squatting and prevent a safety risk.

Since then daily security patrols have been carried out as Thames Valley Police received reports of drug dealing at the site.

But Cherwell District Council has now granted planning permission for its Build team to move onto the premises in preparation for a new development.

It is likely to be converted into starter homes as part of an expansion of the neighbouring Bretch Hill estate.

Banbury Town Councillor Mark Cherry, who frequented the pub from the age of 18 himself, said he knew locals had been 'disappointed' by the pub's fate.

He said: "Unfortunately pubs that don't serve food are few and far between now and there were rumours it was going to be a Harvester but I had to put people right."

"We have just got to make the best of it and fight for the social and affordable housing we need in Banbury."

The pub is named after Vice Admiral Lancelot Ernest Holland, who was born in Middleton Cheney in 1887 and served in the Royal Navy for 38 years, dying on board the HMS Hood in 1941 at the height of the Second World War.

In October this year the sign that formerly hung outside the pub in Woodgreen Avenue was 'rescued' by Mr Cherry in conjunction with a local fireman.

It was formally gifted to the national HMS Hood Association to keep the pub's memory alive.

Mr Cherry added that if new homes were indeed built on the site the road could be renamed.

He said: "I've mentioned it could be named 'Admiral Way' because once the pub is demolished, anybody coming in won't know there was a pub there."