An historic pub, parts of which date back to the early 1500s, has become the latest casualty of the credit crunch.Cross Keys in Market Place, Wymondham is now closed after its landlord filed for voluntary bankruptcy.

An historic pub, parts of which date back to the early 1500s, has become the latest casualty of the credit crunch.

Cross Keys in Market Place, Wymondham is now closed after its landlord filed for voluntary bankruptcy.

Its demise comes shortly after Wymondham's Woolworth's store shut and has raised concerns that the town's economy could suffer.

However, town and South Norfolk district councillor for Wymondham, Joseph Mooney, who is also a former town mayor, said he was confident the town would bounce back.

He said: 'I'm very sorry that Cross Keys and Woolworths have closed. In the case of Cross Keys I hope it will be sold as a going concern. It's a very nice pub and a good location.

'Obviously it will affect the town's economy in some sense and people have lost their jobs, but I think we will come back from it. I have already heard that some people are interested in taking over the Woolworth's site, so we have got to remain positive.'

Cross Keys' landlord John Turner, 56, who has run the pub for two years, said it was a sad day but it reflected the tough challenges pubs across the county and nationwide were facing.

He said: 'It's a shame. I have been in the industry since 1989 and this is my third pub, but the economic situation is such that it was not possible to carry on.

'It's very tough at the moment and I feel sorry for the pub industry. I think we will see more pubs closing this year.'

Mr Turner, who formerly ran the Bird in Hand in Wreningham and the now demolished Earl of Leicester in Dereham Road, Norwich, said he was still living above the pub and was worried he could be homeless if the pub's owners decide to evict him.

Cross Keys is owned by Wellington Pub Company and managed by Criterion Asset Management. A spokesman for Wellington said he had no comment to make.