CONTRACTORS have started demolishing the last remaining part of the former Blackburn Royal Infirmary – the historic War Memorial Wing.

The rest of the building should be flattened by March, ready for the start of construction of the £4.8 million dementia care home which will replace it, council bosses said.

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The first part of the decaying 86-year-old ‘eyesore’ to be demolished is the single-story operating theatre block at the front.

The remainder will follow in the next ten weeks once the current cold weather eases for the rubble and debris to be cleared.

Contractors said the crest stones, foundation stones plinth have been removed, taken away from site and stored ready for re-use.

The mosaic floor area is being protected during the demolition phases until the building is cleared.

This will then allow for further assessments to be made towards salvaging the mosaic, regeneration bosses said.

As much as possible will be incorporated in a replica to be installed with the stones in a special public memorial garden.

The demolition went ahead despite protests from local history enthusiasts concerned key features of the building, constructed after the First World War, were not being preserved properly in the new development.

The scheme, by award-winning charity Community Integrated Care (CIC), will provide 64 beds for frail pensioners and outreach services for Alzheimers sufferers.

It will create 100 new jobs and include a café, landscaped gardens and meeting rooms for community use.

A spokesman for CIC said: “Building will start in March and take 48 weeks before the development opens in late January or early February next year.”

Blackburn with Darwen regeneration boss Maureen Bateson said: “The memorial wing holds lots of memories for people so along with others, I am sad to see it is going.

“It was there to provide a much needed service for residents at the time and the new extra care facility will also do the same for the future.

“The scheme also brings news jobs into the area and will be the final piece in the development of this key site.”

Borough social care chief Mohammed Khan said: “I am delighted to see the progress of this important development.

“We see this as the first of a number of exciting new developments for older people in the borough. “ The wing was left standing when the rest of the infirmary was razed in 2007.

The CIC scheme will complete work on the site by David Wilson Homes North West, which has created an estate of 116 properties.