THE Heatherton Grange hotel between Wellington and Taunton remains closed this week.

Owners Ashby Licensing hope to be up and running again within the next fortnight, once builders have carried out essential repairs to the kitchen walls.

Notices went up more than a week ago to say the business was shut due to storm damage. A member of staff initially told the Somerset County Gazette the 17th Century pub would be open again this week.

But surveyors and builders have assessed the damage and the reopening has been delayed as the owners wait for repair work to be completed.

A spokesman for Ashby Licensing said: "We are now hoping to reopen in a couple of weeks' time. We have got to have the kitchens repaired - as soon as the repairs are done we will be open again. It all depends on the builders and their programme."

He explained that protective plastic wall coverings in the hotel kitchens had "blown" as rainwater came down from the roof and got behind them.

Renovation and restoration work on the Heatherton Grange was carried out, last year - work began in May and the business reopened before Christmas.