A PUB that lost its battle for survival seems set to be turned into homes - despite the efforts of its supporters to save it.

The Red Lion pub in Oakley Green Road, Oakley Green became the centre of a campaign to save it after previous landlord Marc Hunter spent two and a half years trying to build it back up as a community centre running popular events including a dog show. There was even a christening ceremony planned for the future.

But in the end he was given notice to leave by owners Punch Breweries.

The Royal Borough tried to help. The pub was listed as an Asset of Community Value in 2016, giving residents the right to bid to buy it. The order gave them six months to raise the cash but in the end the attempt was not successful.

Now councillors on the Royal Borough's Maidenhead Development Management Panel have bowed to the inevitable and given permission for the pub to be turned into one two bedroomed and one four bedroomed home.

Cllr David Coppinger who represents the Bray ward and is cabinet member for planning called the application in for councillors to discuss it in public.

He paid tribute to the efforts of the previous landlord but said no-one had been able to put in a specific bid to buy the pub despite residents' bids to raise the money, which indicated that it was not as popular as some other pubs that had been saved.

The successful planning application to turn the pub into homes had been made by P. Roger through agent Richard Murray.