'People power won the day' – that was the reaction of campaigners after supermarket giant Tesco finally backed down in its attempt to take over a historic Lowestoft hotel.

In what has been billed as a David versus Goliath-style battle, people in Pakefield fought tooth and nail against a proposal to convert the Tramway Hotel into a Tesco Express.

After holding demonstrations, gathering 2,000 signatures on a petition and setting up a campaign group during a three-year battle, Tesco this week announced it was backing down, with a spokesman for the firm saying: 'We have made the difficult decision not to proceed with plans for a new store.'

John Ward, secretary of Pakefield Opposing Tesco, said: 'As far as I am concerned, with the Tramway Hotel dating back to 1904, we did manage to save an iconic pub.

'It would have been a disaster if Tesco did come in.'

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