A CHOCOLATE box country pub that burned down earlier this year is to be rebuilt.

Landlord Tim Young has won conditional planning permission to rebuild the Farmers Arms, in Combe Florey.

The thatched inn, originally built in the 15th Century, was destroyed in a blaze in January.

The premises, in Coggins Lane, a stone's throw from the home where Brideshead Revisited author Evelyn Waugh lived until his death in 1966, had previously been reconstructed following another devastating fire in 1985.

The planning application to Taunton Deane Borough Council outlines how the outside of the premises will remain faithful to the previous design "in order to preserve the existing street scene".

It will retain two storeys to the main building and keep the existing single storey rear extension and west-facing extension.

The ground floor will contain an open plan bar and restaurant space, while the layout of the kitchens and cellars will remain unchanged.

The toilet block will contain new disabled facilities, while a new central staircase in the bar will provide access to the first floor.

The existing connecting lobby between the toilet block and main building will be removed and replaced with a glazed walkway.

The application says: "The first floor will be used to create additional restaurant space.

"The south end room will be retained as staff quarters. with access to a new ensuite shower room.

"The existing bathroom and cupboard, constructed of timber stud, will be removed.

"The footprint of the building will remain unchanged, with no proposed extensions to the existing building."

Mr Young and his partner Jane Bishop staged an event at Crowcombe Court after the fire that raised £2,222 for the Firefighters Charity to thanks fire crews for their efforts in fighting the blaze.

The successful application to rebuild the Farmers Arms comes weeks after planners approved of proposals to rebuild The Merry Harriers, at Forches Corner, on the Blackdown Hills, which was burned down in a fire in December 2016.