A VILLAGE pub has been forced to close after the landlord decided to leave.

The Sixteen String Jack, in Theydon Bois, recently closed without warning, leaving locals wondering what was going on.

Resident Leslie Jerman said: "The Sixteen String Jack was doing well and they had good food and at the weekends it was packed."

But the production and sales director for the McMullens chain, Fergus McMullen, said it will be reopening in the near future.

He said: "It had to shut down because of personal reasons. It's all rather sad and we've had to close it temporarily."

He added: "We're looking for new tenants and are hoping to find someone very soon."