WORK has begun to demolish a former cinema block in Burnley.

Internal work is under way at the old Studio 123 cinema in the Charter Walk shopping centre.

Burnley Market Hall, which is next to the site, will remain open for business as usual throughout the demolition work, as will the nearby Curzon Street car park.

Council bosses say the demolition will remove an unsightly and underused building and is part of wider plans for the continued regeneration of Burnley town centre.

Initial work will be carried out internally and concentrate on preparing the building for demolition.

General site clearance has been completed and controlled works are now underway to remove internal structures to facilitate the demolition and dismantling of the building.

It is expected that this will take a further month or so and that the building will start to be pulled down in the autumn. Preparation work, including scaffolding and working platforms, will be put in place shortly.

The vehicle bridge and pedestrian bridge over Bankfield will be the final two elements to be taken down and it is expected that these will be completed towards the end of this year.

Surrounding businesses will remain open throughout.

Reinstatement work will be carried out once demolition is completed to improve the look of the site.

Cllr Asif Raja, Burnley Council’s executive member for economy and growth, said: “This essential work is part of wider, ongoing plans to redevelop Burnley town centre to attract more people to Burnley and boost the local economy.

“It will improve the appearance of that part of the shopping centre and pave the way for potential redevelopment in the future.”

In March, Burnley Council’s executive confirmed it had struck a deal with Maple Grove to develop a leisure and retail park at the former Pioneer supermarket site in Curzon Street.

The scheme will include a cinema, restaurants, a public plaza, shops and a 125-space car park.

Under the proposals, Reel Cinema would move from its current site in Manchester Road, on the edge of the town centre, to a new multi-screen complex.

A national supermarket chain would take over and convert the existing cinema, together with a redesign of the car park and improved access.

Speaking at the time, council leader Cllr Mark Townsend said the scheme would create about 300 jobs and help draw in more visitors to the town centre.a

He added the council was keen to expand on leisure and entertainment facilities in the town centre.