DEMOLITION has begun at a former police headquarters.

Durham Police left its 1960s-built HQ in Aykley Heads, Durham City, for a new purpose-built £15 million facility a few yards away during 2014.

The old facility is being demolished to make way for around 230 houses, on an estate developed by Persimmon Homes and to be known as Aykley Woods.

On its Facebook page, Durham Police said it was the “end of an era” and it was “feeling nostalgic”.

The old HQ was crumbling and costly to maintain. The new base costs about £750,000 less per year.

A Grade II-listed but defunct radio mast that was designed by the revered Brutalist engineer Sir Ove Arup was saved and moved to the new site.