A LANDMARK school building was this week reduced to rubble - much to the dismay of heartbroken campaigners.

These dramatic pictures capture the demolition of the former Tudhoe Grange School, on Durham Road, Spennymoor, in County Durham.

Campaigners had lobbied Durham County Council and Spennymoor Learning Community Trust in a bid to save the building which closed in 2012 when Tudhoe Grange and Spennymoor Schools merged to create Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form College.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition calling for its 1912 red brick frontage to be saved and argued that it was one of the most treasured parts of the town’s heritage.

But both organisations said the cost of repairs meant it was not economically viable to retain the building so decided to clear and sell the land to make money to reinvest in education.

The school on Durham Road was previously known as Spennymoor Higher Elementary, Alderman Wraith Grammar and Durham Road Secondary.

Many former pupils have visited the site this week to witness its final days, taking photographs and even laying flowers at the scene.

Many took to Facebook to post messages on the Spennymoor Save Our Heritage and Spennymoor news from The Northern Echo pages.

Alan Gardner branded the demolition "a total disgrace" and accused the council of showing contempt for the electorate.

Patricia Coates said: “Durham Road will never be the same again.”

And Christine Pearson said: “A sad, sad day for all of us the day we hoped would never come is now here.”