Scaffolding is up at Dorchester's Wetherpoon pub in High West Street – but the company says it is not in connection with plans to create hotel rooms.

The business was granted planning permission more than a year ago to convert upper floor rooms of the Royal Oak to eight hotel bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. Permission for an extra bedroom and bathroom on the top floor was later added and consent also sought to make changes on the ground floor which would add extra seating.

In their application at the time, architects for the company say the conversion will help protect the building: "The upper floors are currently in a poor state of repair, with damp and mould taking a hold of the listed fabric of the building."

The pub, parts of which date back to the late 18th century, was previously run by Dorchester brewers, Eldridge Pope.

A spokesman for Wetherspoon said this week that the hotel works still remain on hold for the time being with the scaffolding currently in place for roof and window repairs and some minor decoration works.