A CONSERVATIONIST and an MP have told of their regret at losing a 100-year-old pub as part of a £400m development.

The Director General pub will be demolished to make way for the recently approved Love Lane development. The 1.5million sq ft scheme is being co-ordinated by the council, developer St James Investments and Tesco.

It will create 2,760 jobs and 960 homes, some of which will be built on top of the 80,000sq ft Tesco store.

The pub is one of three Wellington Street businesses to be demolished to make way for the £45m Woolwich Civic Centre.

But Greenwich Conservation Group member Philip Binns and Erith and Thamesmead MP John Austin feel the pub's demolition is another piece of Woolwich's history disappearing.

Mr Binns, 71, said: "We were very disappointed. They could have tailored the scheme to include the pub.

"For the past two to three years, we have seen pub buildings, particularly in Woolwich, being demolished and put to other uses."

The society lobbied the council to save the internal features of the pub, such as the stained glass windows, which will be included in the replacement pub in the new civic building.

Mr Austin, 62, who used to be a pub regular during the 1970s, added: "It's sad a traditional old London pub with so many original features is going."

Members of the gay community who visit the pub also feels there will be nowhere else for them to go.

James Delaney, 40, of Earlbrook Road, Plumstead, said: "There have been gay-friendly pubs but they have never been like this one.

"Everyone accepts you for who you are.

"There are straight people here as well and it's like we are one big family."

Gary Bush, 39, of Barnfield Road, Plumstead, added: "You can feel uncomfortable in some chain pubs, which are a bit homophobic.

"It's just not going to be the same without the Director General."