A pub which was gutted in a fire last month is set to re-open before Christmas under new management.

The Albert, on Chipping Hill, Witham, has been closed since a first floor fire which broke out at the pub on September 10.

The building’s owner, Star Pubs, has agreed a new lease for the pub, which will re-open as The Railway in December.

Four fire crews were needed to put out last month’s blaze, which caused traffic gridlock as Chipping Hill remained closed for several hours.

A Star Pubs spokesman said: “The pub is closed at the moment and work is due to start on November 4.

“The plan is for it to re-open again in the third week of December, in time for Christmas.”