VILLAGE volunteers want to painstakingly pull down an old house brick by brick in a bid to rebuild it as a community restaurant and flats for residents.

The Great Oakley Community Hub, which already owns and runs the Maybush Inn pub, has put in an application for planning permission to knock down Red House in Farm Road.

The idea is to then rebuild it with an additional extension to the side so it would join on to the pub, like it did until the 1940s.

An underpass underneath would leave access to one of two car parks.

Mark Godfrey, chairman of the community group, said: “Red House is shot to pieces.

“We bought it hoping to be able to refurbish it but the only thing holding it up is the render on the outside. The mortar is just dust.

“Having sought lots of advice, the overall feeling everyone had is that the best thing to do is pull it down. We will take it down brick by brick and reuse as much as we can.

“There used to be a row of cottages joining Red House to the Maybush until the 1940s then they were demolished.”

The new red brick building will have a commercial kitchen downstairs and eating area and three one-bedroom flats upstairs.

It is hoped the restaurant will serve hot lunches for the elderly as well as breakfasts and afternoon teas, and the flats will be rented to people already in or from the village.

The plans are on display in the snug bar at the Maybush Inn for public viewing.

If given permission by Tendring Council it is hoped work could start in two months’ time and be finished by next summer.

The community hub has been given two grants towards the restaurant - £25,000 from the Princes Countryside Fund and £20,000 from Essex County Council.

Mr Godfrey said while the plans were being drawn up, a new garden at the Maybush Inn has been created.

An official opening is being held tomorrow at 2pm with morris dancing and a barbecue for the school PTA.