A pub is to make way for new housing, becoming the latest casualty in a wave of weekly closures sweeping Britain.

The Harrow in Ripple Road, Barking, will be knocked down and replaced by five houses and eight flats.

The forthcoming demolition emerged as the latest figures showed 16 pubs close each week.

The Harrow had been shut for months, during which time it had been “extensively vandalised”, according to a planning report compiled by Barking and Dagenham Council.

Labour councillors gave the plans the go-ahead in December after being told demand for new housing was “considerable”.

The Harrow’s history dated back to 1948, according to the planning report.

The Campaign for Real Ale warned Britain’s suburbs were “under threat” after its statistics, published in January, showed half the closures were in the periphery of towns and cities.

A spokesman said many had been hit by a “whirlwind” of beer tax hikes and deep alcohol discounts from supermarket chains.