Political pressure has persuaded the owners of The Royal Standard pub in Wallingford to drop their plans to rename it The Old Father Thames.

Pub company Greene King and licensees James Wood and Andrew Sparkes, who took over the pub last autumn, had proposed the new name as part of plans to give the venue a new image.

It previously had a reputation for violence, drug abuse and under-age drinking, and Insp Chris Parker, of Wallingford police, was due to oppose a renewal of the former landlord's licence until that became unnecessary when the publican left for Ireland.

But the town council did not want the pub to lose the name it had had for more than 100 years and which reflected Wallingford's royalist past.

Town clerk Andrew Rogers wrote to Greene King suggesting the word "royal" should be retained in any new name.

Now the new management has agreed to drop The Old Father Thames idea and call the pub The Royal instead.

Mr Wood said: "We've discussed it with many local people and I'm just pleased that with their help and the council's, we have been able to decide on a new name which will suit everyone and still retain some of the royal connections the historic town has."

He added that the town council had understood the need for a complete change of image for the pub and the new name would be a good compromise.

Town councillor Betty Atkins, a vocal critic of the name The Old Father Thames, said: "I'm absolutely delighted and I know that many other people in the town will be too.

"When it re-opens, I shall be one of the first customers to go there.

"All credit to them, they have listened and changed the name, and I would like to say 'thank you'."

The Royal is due to be opened in time for the Queen's Golden Jubilee following a £250,000 refit.

The pub's French head chef, Jean Gyseman, from Mr Wood's other pub, The Nut Tree Inn in Murcott, near Bicester, is to help develop a traditional English menu for The Royal.