A PUB destroyed by fire will be reopened in March next year, if plans are approved.

Plans have been submitted for the restoration and reconstruction of The Bull Inn, Main Road, Hockley.

Community leaders welcomed the news about the popular pub.

Brian Hazlewood, Tory councillor for Hockley, said he’s pleased the pub will reopen.

He said: “I think it’s a good thing that it is being rebuilt and will reopen.

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“It was very popular in the town and a lot of people used it.

“As it is a listed building I am hoping they will rebuild it and it will look exactly the same as it did before the fire.

“People in the community were devastated as so many people enjoyed going there.

“I think residents and the community will be pleased about the pub reopening.

“We were all shocked and surprised when the it caught fire.

“The community will be very pleased to see it reopen.”

Six fire crews descended on Main Road, Hockley, after receiving multiple reports of a large fire at The Bull Inn back on August 4.

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The pub is a Grade II listed building and parts of its timber frame date back to the 16th century.

The fire service said the fire was believed to be caused accidentally, but an investigation could not ascertain the exact cause due to the extent of the damage.

A spokesman for Greene King said: “We are pleased to be in a position to have submitted a planning application to rebuild the much-loved Bull pub in Hockley.

“Alongside the community, we were extremely upset by the fire at this popular pub last August and from the outset have been determined that the pub should be rebuilt at the earliest possible opportunity.

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“Given the pub’s heritage listed status, the process of ascertaining the amount of damage caused and planning a reconstruction has needed to be extremely thorough, with the initial few weeks and months spent ensuring the remaining structure was safe and secure.

“It is too soon for us to give an absolute date for reopening, but if everything goes to plan with our application and the subsequent project, we would hope to be reopening the Bull for the community in the spring of 2020.

“We do appreciate this is still some way off but unfortunately there is little option when dealing with such a detailed project involving a historic building.

“We look forward to welcoming the community back to the Bull when it reopens and expect to be on site to begin the reconstruction work later this year.”