WORKERS were waiting for the main road through Chudleigh Knighton to be sealed off late this afternoon so that demolition could begin on part of a front wall of the Anchor Inn, writes JOHN BALMENT.

During Tuesday night’s gale force winds and heavy rain, some of the render and masonry behind it crashed to the pavement at the front of the pub.

Luckily on Monday a resident, fearing that a section of wall was in imminent danger of collapse and worried about villagers safety, contacted Teignbridge Council which was quick to respond by putting barriers in front of the building so that pedestrians could not walk alongside it.

Today the council sent a Devon Building Control Partnership surveyor to inspect and assess the building and he decided part of the wall was dangerous and would have to come down.

The closure brought more misery to motorists – the B3344 between Chudleigh Knighton and Bovey Tracey is closed until the end of March at Bradley Bends.

It is expected that the road through Chudleigh Knighton will be reopened tomorrow once the demolition is complete.

The Anchor Inn burnt down in March 2013 and until recently scaffolding was attached to the front of the building.

A Teignbridge Council spokesman said: ‘We are also trying to establish who the owner of the building is and we will be taking action if it is required.’