Landlady Melissa Hollywood, who is married to the Great British Bake Off judge, reportedly said her family was planning on closing the Grade II-listed Chequers Inn in Smarden, Kent, at the end of August due to declining trade.

She was granted permission to turn the 600-year-old property into a home by Ashford Borough Council's planning committee.

But the request, submitted in January, faced opposition from residents and Smarden Parish Council who feared the loss of the pub at the "heart of the village" would "conflict with the aims of promoting the economy", planning documents said.

The TV star, 58, told BBC South East: "The vindictiveness from the locals towards the family who have been here 18 years is unforgivable."

Hollywood said his wife's family wanted to sell the pub as a business after the council planning meeting but had received unrealistic offers.

"If the villagers themselves want to get their act together and put a bid in and buy it, that's fine," he said.

"At the end of the month it's earmarked to close because they cannot sustain the money that's coming in because there's no money coming in."

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He said the pub was failing even though tens of thousands had been spent on a renovation and a new car park.

"I'm going to have to step in and help them out, personally, but I'm not a charity," Hollywood said.

"I have given a substantial amount of money to turn it into what it is now. It is a beautiful pub but it is a business that is losing money."