THE future of one of the town's best-known landmarks hangs in the balance after being sold off to developers.

Forestdale Hotels has sold The Goddard Arms hotel to an unnamed developer, but there is currently no planning permission for the site.

And as it is a Grade II listed building, it cannot be demolished.

A spokesman for the hotel, which is in Old Town's High Street, confirmed that it will be closing its doors on August 31.

He refused to comment any further.

The hotel has been a landmark in Swindon for more than 300 years.

It was formerly a thatched inn, called The Crown, before it was bought by Thomas Goddard and renamed in honour of the family during the 18th Century.