The leaning wall of Pewsey has caused a well-used street in the village to be closed for several weeks and hit trade at one of the most popular pubs, the Coopers Arms.

The wall is at the side of Ball Road, a narrow lane that offers a short cut between Milton Road and the Everleigh road and is well used despite being a single-track carriageway.

At its narrowest point at Kings Corner a four-feet high brick-built retaining wall is leaning into Ball Road and it has been getting progressively more precarious.

In November Wiltshire Council’s highways department was forced to close the road to vehicles, leaving a narrow strip for pedestrians.

The council issued property owner Martyn Young, who bought 1 Kings Corner three years ago, with a notice requiring him to get the wall repaired or demolished and threatening to carry out the work themselves and send him the bill.

Coun Jerry Kunkler, Pewsey’s Wiltshire councillor, said on Tuesday: “That notice expired today so the highways officers have to decide what will happen now. They cannot just keep the road closed much longer.”

Highways officers were at Mr Young’s home when the Gazette called and said they were in talks about what work was needed to the wall before the road could be re-opened.

Mr Young, a print studio manager, said he was unaware of any problems with the wall when he bought the house. “It certainly wasn’t in as bad a state as it is now.”

He said he was checking to see if the repair cost would be covered by his property insurance but added: “I have no idea how much it will cost.”

Micky High, one of the owners of the Coopers Arms, said the pub had lost customers when signs went up saying the road was closed until new signs went up to say access to the pub and the soccer club remained open.