Plans to convert an empty pub in Gillingham into flats have been rejected by councillors.

The Barge, which hosted Ellie Goulding at the start of her career and was a popular haunt of Gillingham singer Jamie Johnson, closed last March due to financial problems.

It was put on the market at auction last May. A planning application was submitted to Medway Council to convert the pub in Layfield Road into three one-bedroom and one three-bedroom flats.

Planning officers recommended the application for refusal as they felt the proposal would involve removing original features and said it is not in keeping with the road, which is in a conservation area.

An application to turn the pub into two homes was given the go ahead by planners in November last year but the new application to convert The Barge into flats was rejected by councillors at a meeting on Wednesday.