A 700-year-old priory in a village near the coast has been granted permission to operate as a weddings venue on a permanent basis.

Butley Priory has been hosting weddings for many years and was revamped in 2021 by the owners, who operate under the name of Greenwell Farms.

The owners had applied to East Suffolk Council back in April last year seeking approval for "continuation of use of property as a wedding and events venue with accommodation on a permanent basis".

The application attracted a string of comments in support of the proposal, with local residents expressing hopes the wedding venue would continue to operate due to the boost it brings to the area's economy.

There were some comments from businesses as far away as Ipswich supporting the plans.

Butley Priory has a long history dating back to the time when the nearby Orford Castle was being constructed by King Henry II.

In its decision notice, East Suffolk granted approval to the plans with some conditions – including on the use of amplified music being played outside the building.