A historic village pub could be transformed into a school for pupils with special needs.

Teaseldown School, an independent school special school for 11 to 16-year-olds, is currently based in Mill Road, Ridgewell, but hopes to move to the 16th grade II listed Sugar Loaves pub building, in Swan Street, Sible Hedingham.

A planning application has been submitted to Braintree Council.

Under the plans, two new semi-detached homes would also be built on land to the west of pub, which has been closed since Christmas 2009.

Headteacher Hazel Bunting (pictured) said: “There is very little provision of this type so it would be a slight expansion and also give us a bit more space."