The Crown and Anchor pub at St Germans has been sold

The Crown and Anchor at St Germans, near King's Lynn, closed down in October.

Owner Admiral Taverns put the pub, which stands beside the River Ouse, up for sale.

A community benefit society was launched to buy the 14th century hostelry.

The Crown and Anchor at St Germans (Image: Chris Bishop)

But the Wiggenhall and Saddlebow Community Benefit Association (WSCBA) has now said it has called time on the campaign, because new buyers have secured the pub.

Its chair Steve Welcomme said: "We are delighted to announce that Alex and Paul Turner together with Scott Wiggins and Tom Sinclair have exchanged contracts to buy the pub.

"We had put our campaign on hold as their goals so closely aligned with ours."

Mr Welcomme said campaigners had hoped to keep the pub open for the community and secure its long-term future.

The Crown and Anchor stands beside the tidal Ouse at St Germans (Image: Chris Bishop)

"The new management team have a background in the pub business and lots of ideas about what they want to do, which is all very exciting," he added.

"They intend to upgrade the building over a period of time. They want to run the pub for the community and we are fully supportive of that."

The Crown and Anchor was once one of four pubs in the village, which stands on the banks of the tidal river.

The Black Horse closed in 1966, the Chequers pulled its last pint in 1968 and the Three Tuns called time in 1981.

The Crown and Anchor is the last surviving pub in St Germans (Image: Chris Bishop)

Villagers have joined forces to buy a number of pubs to preserve them for their communities in recent years.

They include the King's Arms, at Shouldham and  Blue Bell in Stoke Ferry. 

WSCBA will be formally wound down later this month.