THE owners of a pub and restaurant made unsaleable by flooding are planning to turn it into a private house with holiday lets for spring and summer trade.

Mark and Beatrice Chatterton have submitted a planning application to Herefordshire Council to convert the Five Bridges Inn, off the A4103 at Bishop's Frome.

Mrs Chatterton said: "The holiday lets will be seasonal. We no longer have insurance against floods. If we flood now, we'll go bankrupt.

"Because of the floods we can't sell. We're not far off retirement age and this is what we've come up with."

The worst cases of flooding came at Christmas two years ago when the pub was deluged twice in a week with water from the nearby River Frome pouring in from the main road outside.

The partial conversion of the pub into holiday lets has already started, following an earlier planning application.

The couple's agent, James Spreckley, a Hereford-based planning and development surveyor, said: "It's worth pointing out that in the nearby village of Bishop's Frome there are a further two public houses, The Chase Inn and the Dragon Inn. The Fir Tree Inn is also within 500 metres, also with direct access off the A4103.

"This proposal would not result in the unacceptable loss of community facilities."

John Pudge, vice-chairman of the Bishop's Frome and Fromes Hill Parish Council, said: "I suspect that the parish council won't want to see another public house lost."

Coun Pudge pointed to the Wheatsheaf pub at Fromes Hill, which has not been open for two years.

He said of Mr and Mrs Chatterton's application: "Personally, I have a lot of sympathy. The cost of premiums have gone up and it's affecting small businesses.

"It's a good pub and a super restaurant and it's a shame that men in grey suits can refuse to insure them."