ANOTHER Great Yarmouth pub is set to close in October, adding to the long list of pubs that have called time in the town over the last couple of years.

ANOTHER Great Yarmouth pub is set to close in October, adding to the long list of pubs that have called time in the town over the last couple of years.

Peter Jermy, 64, landlord of the Burton Arms in Howard Street North, will be closing the pub he has run for the last 40 years to spend more time with his family.

The father-of-four, who owns the building close to the police station, has submitted plans to Yarmouth Borough Council to convert the premises into a house for his family and himself. This will involve adding an extra bedroom to the three he currently has and converting the downstairs bar area into a children's play area and dining room.

But Mr Jermy said the smoking ban in July 2007 combined with the recession had slashed his trade by 30pc and was one of the factors in his decision to quit.

However, he said the main reason behind the decision was to care for his family, particularly his autistic son Nicholas, nine, spurred by the death of his sister Shirley, 71, last year.

He is married to Russian Olina, 45 and has three other childen- stepson Boris, 23, Gleb, 10 and Lily, five.

He said: “I am sad to be retiring. All my life I have worked in the pub and I have met some wonderful people on the way, but all good things must come to an end. Losing my sister last year was one of the main influences. She had been ill for some time.

“I am nearly 65 and I thought crikey I want to spend as much time as I can with my family.”

A number of pubs have closed in the Yarmouth borough during the last few years due to the recession and smoking ban, including the White Horse and Cap and Gown at Gorleston and The Mitre in Yarmouth which has since been converted into Lily's Wine Bar.

The Cap and Gown in Magdalen Way has been demolished to make way for 15 new houses and the White Horse has been earmarked for similar developments.