Another move to allow the Royal Oak in Moreton, near Thame, to become a private house is to be made on appeal to a Government planning inspector.

It was the village pub for decades but closed and later became a French restaurant that closed in 1999.

It has not been used as a pub or restaurant since but relatives of owner Augustin Brunner, who lives in Italy, have stayed there.

Although South Oxfordshire District Council refused permission to let it become a private house, it never reopened as a pub.

Now an appeal has been lodged to try to reverse the district council's decision but no date has yet been fixed for the hearing.