Work is now due to start soon on Dorchester's dilapidated King's Arms Hotel.

The former coaching inn, mentioned by Thomas Hardy in The Mayor of Casterbridge, is to be refurbished with 32 bedrooms, a bar and restaurant.

There has been concern from local councillors about the state of the building which has cracked paintwork and render with vegetation growing from the walls and roof.

Local councillor Stella Jones said at at a meeting in November that the district council ought to use its powers to enforce the repair of the building.

But town councillors are now to be told that work on the hotel is expected to start mid-February with the first phase anticipated to take about 36 weeks to include the restaurant, bar and 20 bedrooms, with the second phase to complete the additional 12 bedrooms to follow on.

It was originally bought by a Devon-based pub chain which has since sold on its interest in the building which it purchased at the same time as buying The Anvil Inn at Pimperne.

The King's Arms closed in November 2015 after going into receivership towards the end of 2014.

Pub company Draco, the original purchasers, initially hoped to carry out the refurbishment in mid-2018 but blamed delays in the planning system for not doing so.

Previous guests at the building have included Queen Victoria, King George IV, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.