A village butchers that served a community for more than 100 years could be turned into a house.

Chapmans, on The Green in Martham, closed in April last year - and now its owner Philip Dowe is seeking permission to change the use of the former shop to residential.

The proposal would allow the premises to become part of the adjoining house, historically known as The Walnuts. 

A statement submitted with the application says that Mr Dowe owns the neighbouring house which has been used as their home while the butchers shop was trading.

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According to the plans, there would be "very limited impact" on the external appearance with only the former butcher shop door being infilled and all other windows remaining.

A decision on the bid, currently in the hands of planners at Great Yarmouth Borough Council, is expected by January 14 next year.

The closure of Chapman's in April 2023 came one year after owners Mr Dowe and his wife Francesca put the premises and its accompanying four-bedroom house on the market.

At the time, Ms Dowe said: "It is very sad, but it is time for us to slow down and enjoy some free time together after 27 years of ownership."

Mr Dowe took on the business in 1996 having worked there previously. He had started as a 14-year-old butcher's boy under its previous owner George Chapman.

Previously, he said that in an average week he sold 150lbs of sausages while people's tastes had not changed too much over the years, except for seasonings and flavourings.

The butchers was built in approximately 1895 by William and George Chapman. The adjoining house was built in around 1830.