There's no chance of the beloved Battle of Britain pub being rebuilt after an application to have it listed as a community asset was refused.

Locals left distraught by the shock dismantling of the historic building back in October had made a bid to Gravesham council in the hope of forcing landowners Brakspear brewery to rebuild it, but it has been turned down.

The council said the site, in Coldharbour Road, Northfleet, was "not currently used for a purpose which furthers the social well-being or social interest of the local community" and that it would likely not be used in such a way within the next five years.

Campaigners have also been left disappointed by another council rejection.

Members of the Battle of Britain Community Group, spearheaded by Tina Brooker, wanted to see the introduction of a piece of legislation - an Article 4 direction - to protect the rest of the borough's pubs from developers.

Plans are already in place to turn two of them into homes.

A council spokesman said: “Whilst the council would not rule out the making of Article 4 Directions where appropriate in the future, to do so on such a wholesale basis would be inappropriate.

“Where there is case of a facility being valued by local people, they should first consider having it added to the list of assets of community value which would provide a degree of protection.”

The Battle of Britain was pulled down by demolition company Putnam Construction Services by order of the Caldecotte Group, the planning consultancy acting on behalf of Brakspear.

Caldecotte director Paul Sturgess admitted the illegal tear down was a mistake was due to a miscommunication, but the firm did have workers on the site just before Christmas conducting groundwork surveys ahead of a planning application.

No application has yet been submitted.

The site has also had to be locked up at times since the demolition due to a spate of fly tipping.