The landlord of an Oxfordshire pub claims he has to buy his clothes from charity shops as his income last year was just 5,000.

But his story failed to touch the hearts of planners.

They say Richard Muspratt's pub, the Plough at Dorchester, must stay open and cannot be converted to a house.

After the decision by South Oxfordshire District Council western area planning committee, Mr Muspratt said he would have to consider what to do next.

"I've had the pub eight years and seen the takings drop like a stone. The opening of the Dorchester by-pass signalled the death of the pub.

"I now do absolutely everything there myself and my income is so low I have to buy my clothes from charity shops. The year before last it made 10,000, this year 5,000. "I am way outside the main village now and there are four pubs in the centre.

"There is no point in keeping the Plough open we should shut it down and the sooner the better."

He was backed by Morrells agent Peter Houghton, who said it was no longer viable.

He said: "Morrells is a pub-running company, and if The Plough were viable there would be no question of closing it down.

"Drinking in pubs is now no longer as popular as it used to be, and The Plough has lost out.

"It does not even get passing trade now because of the bypass. "It has been marketed as a pub but there have been no takers."

Committee members said there was enough ground for major extensions to the listed building pub to make it viable.

Chairman John Stimson said: "Isolated pubs can be very successful and Morrells should make some attempts to boost the trade, not shut the place down."

He said the policy of not allowing pubs to be closed and converted was justified by the public inquiry decision which said the Chequers at Cholsey should be sold as a pub, not a house.

LAST ORDERS: Richard Muspratt at The Plough, Dorchester, which he says should be shut downPicture: Richard Cave