A VILLAGE is set to lose two of its major businesses.

Finchingfield could lose its antique centre and the Red Lion pub, after both properties were put up for sale within weeks of eachother.

This comes after news that the village’s bridge, which forms part of the B1053, will close for repairworksnext year, creating a 28-mile diversion.

Finchingfield Antiques Centre, a Grade II listed building in TheGreen, has been in the hands of husband and wife Peter and Mary Curry for over 30 years.

The couple put the building up for sale last week. Mr Curry said: “My wife and I will be moving to France hopefully.

“We already have a property out there.

“We have had one couple come andlook at it,but it’s onlybeenup aweek.”

The five-bedroom, 16th century pub is for sale as a freehold property priced at £350,000, with planning documents saying the business is struggling to survive, due to high competition in the village.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Owner Elaine Rollings, who runs the business with husband Peter, said:“Wehavehadtwopeople interested so far.

“Onewouldkeepit asapuband the other would change its use to residential.”

Planning documents said if the pub was converted to residential use, there would be six parking spaces, a reduction from the ten that are therenow.

Residents said the village’s other pub, The Fox, was usually more popular.

Postmistress Jane Welsh said: “It would be a shame to lose another pub in the village, but we shall see what happens.”