A bizarre row has erupted after a dozen cars mysteriously appeared outside a closed city pub.

Neighbours alerted the council when the vehicles started popping up in the former Angel Road Gardens pub with ‘for sale’ signs in their windows. 

But now the puzzle has been solved: The owner of the pub also owns a car dealership... but they STILL have to go! 

AutoShop car dealership says it put the cars out because the landlord was having trouble with fly-tippersAutoShop car dealership says it put the cars out because the landlord was having trouble with fly-tippers (Image: Newsquest)

The city council has ordered the owner of the AutoShop dealership Spencer Grey to get them shifted. But Mr Grey is confused demanding: "Why do I have to move my own cars from my own land?"

Now the council claims the business owner has illegally parked the vehicles on land as he didn’t get planning permission for them to be in the car park.

Cars being sold outside the former Angel Road Gardens pubCars being sold outside the former Angel Road Gardens pub (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Grey said: "I asked Sean, who manages the dealership, if he could park some cars on there to stop anything else happening on the property.

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"Now someone has a bee in their bonnet about it and put in a complaint with the council.

"The pub wasn't profitable which is why it shut, so it's a shame that people can't support the other local business next door which has been around for 30 years."

Green Party city councillor Alex Catt with a letter to residents of what process the council is going through with the issueGreen Party city councillor Alex Catt with a letter to residents of what process the council is going through with the issue (Image: Alex Catt)

Green Party city councillor, Alex Catt, has weighed into the row arguing that the cars need to be moved as they are preventing the pub from reopening.

He said: "People are concerned if the cars are allowed to stay out there illegally then nothing will happen to the pub itself.

"It would be great if new tenants could be found because it's such a waste of the entire site."

A spokeswoman for Norwich City Council said: "We're aware of the issue regarding the parking and selling of cars at Angel Gardens pub.

"We have opened an enforcement case and have advised the pub to remove the vehicles."

There are between 12 and 13 vehicles that the city council say have been placed illegally outside the pubThere are between 12 and 13 vehicles that the city council say have been placed illegally outside the pub (Image: Newsquest)