Wetherspoon is understood to have bought a pub in Maldon High Street.

It is believed to have exchanged contracts with Punch Taverns, which ran the Rose and Crown, and a sale is due to be finalised by next week.

A Wetherspoon spokesman said: “We are very much interested in Maldon but won’t comment on individual sites.”

The Standard understands the chain is in the process of completing the sale.

It is not clear if Wetherspoon will employ existing staff at the Rose and Crown, which closed last Sunday.

Full story in today's Maldon Standard.