A village pub that closed has now gone to ruin and is crumbling into next door's garden.

The once-renowned Lighthouse Inn village pub with views across the Channel used to host lavish opera nights but closed suddenly in 2019.

Locals now look on the abandoned pub on the cliffs of Capel-le-Ferne near Folkestone, Kent, as an 'eyesore'.

The building, constructed in the 1840s, is visibly crumbling since being left to the mercy of high winds blowing in from the sea.

Fed-up local residents are now calling for the venue to be returned to its former glory.

The business was renowned in the area for serving high-quality grub and also boasted hotel rooms.

But it suddenly shut in 2019 after disputes with the owners of the building.

Rachel Garrett, who has lived in the village for 20 years, said the Lighthouse used to be very family-friendly.

She said: "It used to be a really nice place to go because it was a family place you could take your kids to and it had nice gardens you could sit in."

"The previous owners had a Thai chef there and it was great because it was always somewhere nice you could go to where you would see the neighbours, socialise and have some really good food."

"But then they upped their game and started doing things like opera evenings, which I am not sure was something the village wanted."

The 54-year-old added that were money not an issue, she would like to see the pub reborn as its former family-friendly self with holiday lets.

"People always wanted to visit here as it is beautiful," Ms Garrett added."

"It is a real shame and I always thought we could have an internal gym with instructors who come to look after our ageing population, which I think would be a great facility."

"It is an absolute eyesore and it needs some really good investment as our concern is it could be ripped down and turned into housing."

"It's just gone to rack and ruin. It looks a right eyesore and it's deteriorated quite badly and has left all the villagers thinking, 'Well what's it going to be?'."

The inn was split into two parts in 1840: the Vineyard Lodge, which was used as a wine and ale house, and Capel Lodge where travellers would rest, according to archives.

Over the years it bore various names and was run as a home for psychiatric patients, a convalescing home and a country club.

But in February 1998, it was refurbished and opened under the new name of The Lighthouse.

Now, the site is in a sad state of affairs, with weeds overrunning the garden and car park, paintwork left untreated and signage removed from the building.

A wall has even collapsed into a neighbouring garden and the entrance warns passersby to ‘keep out’.

Martin Ingrouille, who has lived in the village for six years, says someone should be able to make a success of it as it is in such a 'prime spot'.

"It used to be a nice place to go, to go outside and look over the Channel," the 67-year-old said. "

"It was one of the main facilities in the village. They did good meals and it was quite busy. "

"I think it is a loss for the village as there are two other pubs at either end, but it has been empty for ages."

"It is gradually declining and becoming more unloved."

The former owners of the Lighthouse announced its closure in July 2019, explaining landlords had been trying to 'gain possession' of the property over the previous 18 months.

In a post on Facebook, the owners wrote: "We would like to thank all our customers through the years."

"We regret to inform you as of today The Lighthouse Inn is now permanently closed."

A second post, shared to the Parish Council's Facebook page, read: "Over the past 18 months landlords have have been trying to gain possession of the property."

"As from midday tomorrow, there will be 24 hour on site security and concrete bollards at the entrance."

"We have thoroughly enjoyed our seven years here, have made friends and will have happy memories of The Lighthouse."

"We would like to thank yourself and the villagers for your loyalty and support over the years."

Adair Lewis said the pub used to do an 'excellent' Sunday roast - but was shocked to find the pub had shut just days after the last roast he had there.

"There was good food, company and family running it," the 77-year-old said. "

"We went there one Sunday for our dinner to watch the air show. But I went back a couple of days later for a drink and they said they had closed."

"It seemed it came as a shock to the couple running it."

"It is a bit of a wreck now but any building that is left like that for years will be."

Another local, who did not want to be named, said the venue had a 'noisy' reputation.

They said: "The people working on the Channel Tunnel used to come and stay up there. "

"It had an active and noisy reputation. They had two good chefs, they did good meals and it was well-run as a hotel and restaurant."

"Things are just falling to bits and it is very sad. Nothing has been done and it is slowly getting into disrepair."

A spokesperson for Capel-le-Ferne Parish Council said this week they had contacted the owner via letter but there was 'nothing else we can do'.

"It is deteriorating and there has been some work there but not anything to be able to sell it or open it to what it was initially which was a lovely restaurant and pub," they said."

"Many of the residents feel very sad that it has been left in a state of despair."

"One appreciates we had the pandemic and that didn’t help but that is done and dusted now."