A DERELICT Newport pub can be demolished and replaced with flats, agreed city planners.

The former King Hotel in Somerton Road is in a run-down condition and has suffered at the hands of vandals.

However, it has an interesting history with links to Newport County AFC, according to Cllr David Hando who is president of the club.

Members of the planning committee were told the proposal, from Liddell and Associates, was to build 32 flats on the site.

A similar scheme was first put forward in 2005 but was delayed because of the flood risk. Flood defence works along the east bank are due to be completed later this year.Lliswerry Cllr John Richards said: "This has been an eyesore for some considerable time and has caused a lot of nuisance for people locally."

We reported in January that a number of residents had complained about the state of the building.

Cllr Hando told the planning committee it was first called the King of Prussia.

When that name fell out of favour it was changed to the King of Prussia but later reverted back to its original name before becoming simply The King - perhaps to save the signwriter some work.

Cllr Hando said when Newport County started there were no changing rooms on the nearby Somerton ground so players used the pub.

Later, when the club was "exiled", the King was used as its headquarters.

However, he supported the proposal and called for it to proceed with "alacrity".

Fourteen one-bedroom and 18-two bedroom flats will be created in the terrace-like development.

It was agreed to give the scheme the go-ahead subject to conditions and a legal agreement that six of the flats are affordable and a £15,000 leisure contribution.