THE fate of a pub which is locked in a battle with neighbours and council officers will be decided this month.

Bosses at the Half Butt Inn, in Nayland Road, Great Horkesley, have been told their licence is under review after repeated noise-related complaints from neighbours.

However its owners claim they are the victim of a vendetta led by Colchester Council and their neighbours and have vowed to close the family-friendly pub in February.

Colchester Council held a month-long consultation on the pub and a review hearing has now been set for October 20.

The most recent incident took place in August, when environmental officers were called to the pub after neighbours complained about the volume of music.

There was also a clash between the pub and neighbours over a £22,000 children's play area which residents claimed allowed little ones to spy into their homes over a perimeter fence.