OUSTED landlord Nigel Marsh has this afternoon returned to The George after the see-saw battle for control of the March pub took another twist.

Mr Marsh triggered extraordinary scenes in the town after he waited outside the pub - accompanied by several police officers - for almost three hours.

At around 3pm he was granted access to The George, which had been under the control of Stephen and Marion Smith.

A dispute earlier this year had seen Mr Marsh arrested for charges of assaulting a police officer and a public order harassment offence relating to Mrs Smith.

Mr Marsh was due to appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court this week but claims the judge “laughed” the case against him out of court.

He said: “The judge said it should never have got to court and that the police were acting unlawfully by evicting the leaseholder.

“When I came back today the police officers didn’t understand any of the history. Nobody had briefed them about Groundhog Day six months ago.

“They didn’t even know who Nigel Marsh was so we were right back to square one.

“I didn’t go in because I didn’t want to get pepper sprayed so I just waited outside with the officers. I was waiting there for about three hours with my wife and my son.”

Mr Marsh said he had “no intention of taking over” at the pub today but he wanted to survey the premises.

Mr Marsh said Fenland District Council had so far refused to give him a premises licence.

Mr Marsh added: “We are now back in the premises and it looks a state. It looks like Aunty Mildred’s front room.”

The George remains closed.