A FORMER village pub is to be converted into a six bedroomed house.

The Crown and Thistle Inn in Roman Road, Hoddlesden, closed in July.

In November its owner Mo Zhabi of Little Italy Cuisine Ltd applied to Blackburn with Darwen Council for permission to turn it into two houses.

This was given planning permission later that month.

Now borough planners have approved an amended plan to transform it into a single six-bedroomed home.

Mr Zhabi and his wife Julie provided thousands of free meals to elderly and vulnerable members of the community during the coronavirus lockdown.

They took over the Crown and Thistle in 2007 and operated it as a restaurant with 120 seats and a small corner bar.

In 2019 the couple started to think about retirement so put the restaurant up for sale.

No buyer came forward.

The associated Crown and Thistle Bakery in Blackburn Road in Darwen which the couple opened in 2021 continued to trade.

A report comfirming approval for the pub conversion by planning officer Christian Barton said: "The application site is a vacant commercial premises located to the south of the village

of Hoddlesden.

"The site is positioned on a main thoroughfare and is surrounded by agricultural fields to all sides.

"The building has natural stone and white rendered elevations, a slate roof, and doors and windows of varying styles.

"The site also has associated gardens and two parking areas staggering Roman Road, which are both accessed directly from that highway.

"The application involves changing the lawful use of the site to form a single six-bedroom dwelling.

"A kitchen and living areas would be formed on the ground floor with bedrooms, a bathroom and office above.

"The car park area adjoining the building would be utilised for the parking of three vehicles alongside garden areas

"The proposed site layout includes what appears to be improvements to the existing access arrangements to properly form an access point to the required off-street parking arrangements.

"The proposed development complies with all requirements.

"Approval is given."

The house is expected to be put up for sale.

West Pennine ward's Cllr Jean Rigby said: "It was very sad it had to close. The owner did his best.

"It is a sensible move rather than let if fall down, The way things are going it will never be a pub again."