THE long-running saga surrounding a closed-down Oxford pub, damaged in a suspected arson attack, has taken a surprise twist, with plans to resurrect it as a bar once again.

The Jack Russell Pub, in Salford Road, Marston, has long been derelict, with owners submitting applications to demolish the building and develop the site for flats.

In November, fire gutted the building in an attack which police blamed on suspected arsonists.

Now, the owner of Templar’s Bar and Kitchen in Barns Road, Cowley, Ronnie Pollitt, has given a glimmer of hope for the pub's future, pledging to buy it in a bid to restore it to its former glory.

Agent for the developer Max Tucker said: “We have got a lot of sympathy for people who want a pub there. The developers are also community minded, so they want to purchase the land and resurrect the pub. They also plan a community centre as well to go along with it.

He said plans were at an early stage, and depended on dialogue with the owner.

He said that there was no indication yet of what form the resurrected pub would take, the services that would be offered, or the style of community centre.

The pub has a long and chequered history and previously been subject to a community buy-out bid, a bid which was ultimately unsuccessful.

Site owners have also made efforts to demolish the building and erect 16 flats in a three-storey building in its place, with a planning application currently pending determination by Oxford City Council.

Responding to the news of the potential buy-out Marston councillor and long-time campaigner to bring the pub back to life, Mick Haines, welcomed the announcement.

He said: “Its fantastic news. I am really excited about it to think we could go back to a pub.

“We have a shortage of pubs in our area and for the local people it will be really good because we have fought for a long time over this.

“And to think something is coming forward to do something about it.

“I think it will work because these people are really keen to do it and it is quite encouraging.

Speaking of the plans to site a community building alongside the pub he said this would be a boon for the community.

He said: “Everyone will be over the moon with that because we are concerned that there is not enough there for the community so it would be a great thing.”

The pub owner was contacted for comment but did not respond.