REGULARS battling to save a popular pub in Bursledon Road, Southampton, from demolition must wait another month to find out its fate.

Drinkers have been fighting for two years to save the Elephant and Castle and have been warned it faces demolition by June if a buyer can't be found.

Locals thought they had won a reprieve in December last year when developers told them that a scheme to build homes and retain the pub on the site had been agreed.

But it has since emerged that the brewer chosen to run the pub has pulled out of the scheme - leaving the fate of the pub in limbo.

At a meeting of the city council's Planning and Rights of Way Panel, developers Highwood Construction put forward two alternative schemes for the site.

One of the plans would have saved the pub and the other would have seen the Victorian building knocked down and homes built.

However, both applications were withdrawn after road safety worries were expressed by councillors.

They feared that access from Bursledon Road to the proposed homes would be dangerous and asked Highwood Construction to submit alternative proposals.

They were also concerned that the plans would destroy the peace and quiet of the Fair Green Road cul-de-sac, where access to a block of ten flats was proposed.

Panel chairman Councillor June Bridle said: "It is about highway safety and the whole decision rests on that."

Speaking after the meeting, pub campaigner Bill Puddle said residents knew the site had to be redeveloped but hoped that the pub could still be saved.

He said: "We hope they will incorporate the pub in the development."

Local resident Graham Chapman added he was "delighted" that the development had been stopped as the planned access to the new homes would have meant vehicles using Fair Green Road cul-de-sac.