Twenty thousand pounds has been allocated to renovate a former village bank into a pop-up shop for fledgling businesses.

NatWest bank, in Swan Street, Sible Hedingham, closed about 15 years ago and has been vacant ever since.

As part of an agreement for the Premdor site development, Bloor Homes gave the building, based opposite the library, to Sible Hedingham Parish Council.

Bloor Homes has also given £20,000 to the council to refurbish it for its new use.

Chairman Gill Massey said: “It is a tiny little building that used to be the smallest bank in England.

“We really want to do something with it to get it back into public use.

“We are considering a pop-up shop for people to try out new businesses.”