REGULARS at a Southampton pub will have to wait until September to find out whether it will be knocked down to make way for housing.

Drinkers at the Elephant and Castle pub in Bursledon Road have fought hard for almost a year against plans for a huge housing development to be built on the site.

Now they will have to wait another few months to hear the final decision on their favourite watering hole.

A government planning inspector holds the fate of the pub in his hands after city planners threw out the proposal and developer David Wilson Homes appealed.

David Wilson Homes has also submitted a second application to the council.

The company claims it has made changes that address some of the concerns raised by planners, customers and neighbouring residents.

But pub regular Ernie Rhodes, 72, of Barry Road, said he has seen the new plans and thinks that there have been no significant alterations.

He is counting on the council to throw out the new application and the government inspector to back the council's original decision to reject the first plan last year.

He said: "I think it is ridiculous that we have had to wait so long. But I am hoping that the council will be on our side this time round as well.

"The new housing will infringe on existing housing and will be situated near a busy and potentially dangerous road. It is simply corporate greed that will benefit no one in the local area."

Southampton City Council's planning department said it would defend its original decision at a public inquiry on September 14.

A spokesman confirmed it had received a new application.