ENFORCEMENT officers have taken action to halt work on a building in part of Middlesbrough's conservation area after a piece of local heritage was partly removed without permission.

The old Pybus Brothers building, which sits in the corner of Oxford Road and Roman Road in Linthorpe, is now home to the Tesco Express store.

And local councillor Steve Bloundele highlighted the fact that an historic balustrade had been removed from the Oxford Road site of the building yesterday. The 'P' from the Pybus Brothers sign is also missing.

Now Middlesbrough Council enforcement officers have immediately stepped in to stop work.

Planning permission is required for changes to the frontage of any commercial property with conservation areas given extra protection through the planning process.

Conservation areas are designated by local councils and their status means consent is needed for alterations which would not be normally required. It also gives councils the powers to refuse work which would be detrimental to local heritage.

The Pybus Brothers were Middlesbrough grocers from about1900 and their name is still set in stone above Tesco.