War veterans are celebrating after a budget supermarket chain has lost interest in developing their memorial hall into a superstore.

Members of Witham’s Royal British Legion (RBL) branch have heard from their head office that Lidl is no longer wanting to buy its Newland Street memorial hall after the chain reportedly approached RBL headquarters more than a year ago.

The German supermarket chain was believed to be interested in buying neighbouring premises, including the former tax office Iceni House, in the hopes of redeveloping the site.

However councillors gave the go-ahead for Iceni House to be developed into houses earlier this year, which included building a rooftop terrace to create seven apartments.

It is understood to be the second time that Lidl has tried to buy the hall.

See this week's Witham Times for the full story.