A WELL-known pub in rural Burnley could be demolished and replaced with four town houses.

Brewing giants Scottish and Newcastle put the Gordon Lennox Arms, Burnley Road, Cliviger, on the market in late January.

And now plans have been lodged with Burnley Council to pull down the alehouse and build four townhouses in its place.

Regulars had their own send-off for the pub at the end of January, when local Cyril Spencer and his wife Doris were given the honour of ringing the last orders bell for the final time.

Landlord Pete Whitehead told the Lancashire Telegraph: "The pub is not making any money so the brewery decided to sell it."

The decision brings a sad end to a poignant last few years for the village hostelry.

Popular local landlord Ian Jagger, a well-known figure in amateur football circles, was among the last publicans to pull pints at the Gordon Lennox.

He was instrumental in setting up the Lennox's soccer side and had previously ran the Derby Arms in Colne and The Brunshaw pubs.

But he suffered a stroke while on holiday in Turkey in July 2005 and although he bravely battled back against doctors' expectations, he died in October 2006 at the age of 52.

While he was ill, Mr Whitehead and Brian Parker reopened the Cliviger pub, following a £20,000 refit.

Mr Jagger's brother Steven had helped to run it in his absence.

And with the support of regulars, they held a number of fundraisers for Mr Jagger's care.

The new proposals for the Gordon Lennox will be decided upon by Burnley Council planning officers, or the borough's development control committee, in the next couple of months.