LONGTIME publicans of the Eight Bells, Alton, have come out of hiding this week after living a secret life on a remote farm in Liss.

John and Patricia Stroud, who retired from the Alton pub in December last year, had deliberately concealed their home in Liss to fool planning inspectors. Now they have been granted a certificate of lawfulness to continue to live close to their horse breeding business.

A full version of this story will be found in the Alton Herald of March 24, 2000.