A community farm group is hoping to buy its own village pub on the Norfolk/Suffolk border so that it can host social events related to its work.

The group - Ikigai Farm Ltd or iFarm as it is known - owns 10 acres of farmland at Blo' Norton just over the border in Norfolk.

It wants to take on the freehold of The White Horse at Thelnetham, near Diss, which lies just 15 minutes' walk from the farm. 

It has already attracted a £298,800 grant from the government's Community Ownership Fund to help buy, renovate and restore the pub so that it can continue as a community hub - but in order to secure the money it must raise £60k itself.

It has so far raised about £40k - but must reach its fundraising target by the end of January.

Julian Thompson, who is chairman of the management committee - said he was confident they would reach the target.

"At the moment we have been operating the pub for two years with a tenancy and an option to purchase. Our option to purchase expires at the end of February," he explained.

Volunteer  Liam Williams, 24, from Ixworth, said the community group was a "fantastic movement for social and environmental welfare" and was run by a "wonderful team of volunteers and management committee".

The group leased the pub in February 2022 in a bid to save it as a going concern.

The farm and the pub are now run with the support of volunteers and the pub has hosted live music events, open mic nights and various community welfare activities such as meet-up-Mondays and a climate action group.

The group plans to grow its own fresh fruit and vegetables on the farm, brew its own ale - and even generate green energy to supply homes.

For more information, visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SaveTheWhiteHorseThelnetham/