The Rayleigh millennium dome is no more - doomed thanks to the demands of planning regulations.

The miniature dome at the Hungry Horse pub in Downhall Road has had to be pulled down after councillors decided it would require planning permission.

The dome's creator and pub landlord Colin Benham decided the cost would be too great and dismantled his construction yesterday.

This Is Essex had previously reported that officials were going to view the dome, which was in the pub's beer garden, to determine if it needed their blessing.

Mr Benham said: "It's disappointing, but that's the way these things go. It would have been too much money to go through the process of getting planning permission.

"I received a letter saying it would have to be taken down by today and decided that the time had come for it to go."

During its brief existence the dome had achieved national fame, appearing in national newspapers and on television.

There was media interest yesterday after reports that it had caught fire. That was a false alarm.

No dome to go to - managers Bernadette Williams and Colin Benham had to dismantle it

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE

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