The Crooked House pub, in Himley near Dudley, burned down on 5 August just two weeks after it was sold to new owners. Three men, aged 33, 51, and 66, have since been arrested and bailed.

The owners of the Crooked House were served with an enforcement notice for the unlawful demolition of the building on Tuesday.

They have been told to rebuild the pub to what it was prior to last year's fire - and that they must do so within three years.

The notice, published by South Staffordshire Council, also specifies the building materials they must use.

More from Sky News:
Prince William pulls out of event due to personal matter
BBC apologises to family at centre of Huw Edwards scandal

The Crooked House's owners have 30 days to appeal, and if they choose to do so, an independent planning inspector will hear the case and the council will have to defend its decision.

If they do not appeal and fail to rebuild the pub, the council can prosecute for failure to comply.

In a statement accompanying the notice, the council said it "has engaged with the owners since the demolition but has reached a point where formal action is considered necessary."

Council leader Roger Lees added: "We have not taken this action lightly, but we believe that it is right to bring the owners, who demolished the building without consent, to account."

He also thanked the local community, MPs and the mayor of the West Midlands for their support in investigating the matter.

Within 48 hours of the blaze last August, the remnants of the 18th-century pub were demolished without permission.

Local protesters jumped into action and attempted to block lorries removing rubble from the site.

Staffordshire Council had only sanctioned the bulldozing of the top floor of the building following safety fears.