ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Campaigners have sided with a London council in its fight to force a developer to rebuild a historic pub brick by brick.

The Friends of Carlton Tavern are backing Westminster Council in its push to have the Carlton Tavern in Maida Vale rebuilt to look exactly how it did before it was torn down.

The pub was demolished illegally by developers CLTX last April while it was being considered for Grade II listed status, opponents claim.

A planning inquiry, set to last several days, is now underway to decide on the future of the pub.

John Simmance, from the Friends of Carlton Tavern, told the Standard: "Our hope is to have the pub rebuilt as it was before it was demolished and we support the decision by Westminster City Council to make CLTX do so.

"We think it can be the pub we knew and loved again. We think it can be rebuilt as it was with the materials that are available to do that. We do think that is possible.

"I was so angry when it was demolished. My first thought was we have to do something about it. So we initially painted on the hoarding saying they had destroyed our pub.

"It was vandalism and thuggery on a large scale."

Councillor Rita Begum, who represents Maida Vale, said the demolition of the pub was "unlawful".

She told the Standard: "The pub was purchased and then demolished with little or no regard for the people in the community.

"My hopes are to make sure CLTX don't get away with such an awful thing. They should rebuild it brick by brick and I want Westminster City Council to enforce that.

"It will be a lesson to learn from in years to come. I think if we get what we want, we will me making history."

Westminster City Council, which is pushing for the pub to be rebuilt, refused planning permission for the demolition and redevelopment of the Carlton Tavern in January 2015.

On March 31 last year, Historic England undertook a 48 hour consultation to consider the pub for listed status.

The consultation was extended until April 13, but five days before the end of the consultation, the pub was demolished without prior notification.

Saira Kabir Sheikh QC, representing Westminster City Council, told the planning inquiry: "It was a flagrant breach of planning control and building regulations with the single aim of frustrating the designation of the pub as a grade II listed building, which Historic England had confirmed it would have been very likely to recommend.

"The importance of the Carlton Tavern was properly understood by all in advance of its unlawful demolition, including the appellant.

"In addition to the heritage harm caused by the demolition, weight must also be given to the loss of a community facility, which has since been registered as an asset of community value."

Ms Kabir Sheikh added the breach of planning control can "plainly" only be remedied by rebuilding the pub.

CLTX have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate to be granted retrospective planning permission for their development and are also appealing the enforcement action forcing them to rebuild the pub.

The developer argues the pub was not a listed building when it was demolished and is not within a conservation area.

The planning inquiry at Westminster City Hall is expected to last four or five days.

The outcome of the hearing is expected in late summer.