Councillors have allowed a pub to keep a holiday let and pizza oven in its garden after they were installed without planning permission.

Owners of The Lantern Inn in Martin, near Dover, have invested more than £1.1m since taking over in 2016, including the addition of a yurt - a circular tent - for overnight guests.

Following a retrospective application, Dover District Council (DDC) received 14 letters of support from residents who felt the 1636-built site needed the new attractions to survive.

However seven people opposed the scheme, which also included a Romany caravan for ornamental purposes, because of noise nuisance and parking fears.

Neighbour Andrew Searle spoke in support of the work at a meeting of DDC's planning committee last week.

"We all know the hospitality industry in general and rural pubs in particular are struggling to stay afloat," he said.

“This is the last pub in Langdon parish and is greatly valued as a community hub. It generates local employment, is a draw to visiting tourists and helps the local economy.

“It needs initiatives like this to be a viable business."

The retrospective application also included a detached outbuilding which acts as an office and staff accommodation.

The scheme was originally submitted three years ago but there were delays following initial concerns about smoke and odour from the pizza oven.

These were answered by increasing the flue height and having trees providing a natural barrier.

In the end DDC planning officers recommended approval of the scheme.

They concluded: “Overall, the application is considered to be acceptable in principle, in terms of the visual and heritage impact, highways and other matters.

“The proposal is considered to be acceptable in relation to noise and disturbance impacts.

“The discharge from the external extraction flue of the pizza oven is not deemed to be unacceptable by environmental health following investigations of possible smoke nuisance and given the pizza oven has been in operation for almost four years."

Those in favour, like Mr Searle, wanted to keep the pub going, saying it was the only meeting place in Martin and provided employment.

Fellow supporter Rosanna Athaide added: “The current owners have certainly maximised the outside space incredibly well and with the additional outside pizza oven is a real treat.

“This is the hub of our community and enjoyed by many families, it's an opportunity to socialise and to enhance mental wellbeing, certainly for those who live alone.

“Sadly, so many pubs and small businesses have been forced to close their doors forever during the past year, let's not lose another. I am in full support of this hidden gem.”

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Those against the application said the yurt and caravan did not fit in with the pub or village and that parking in the area is already difficult with cars parking on footpaths and verges.

Kerrie Moss said: “Patrons are parking their vehicles on the surrounding roads as well as blocking the bus stop and pavements causing a danger to pedestrians.”

Abigail Hughes-Edwards agreed, saying: “Yes, I want the pub to thrive but not at the expense of the peace and quiet that so many people have moved to Martin for.

“The pub garden is in a chalk pit that acts as an amphitheatre and noise really carries.”

Despite the concerns, councillors voted unanimously to approve the application.