WORK has started on demolishing former school buildings badly damaged by fire and vandalism.

The former Eston Park Academy school on Burns Road, Eston, near Middlesbrough, was left in a dangerous structural condition following a major fire in January and 24-hour security has been used ever since to keep people away from the buildings.

After negotiations with insurers, the Academies Enterprise Trust which runs the neighbouring Hillsview Academy and the Department for Education, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has appointed a demolition firm, MGL Demolition to clear the buildings on the site.

Preparation work began last week and now heavy machinery is due to be moved to the site. Residents in neighbouring properties will be a contacted directly. Work was delayed until exams at the nearby Hillsview Academy were finished. It is expected the demolition work will take approximately three months.

Councillor Craig Hannaway, the council's cabinet member for children, said: “The buildings have to be demolished but it was very important that there was no question of the students at Hillsview Academy being disturbed during their exams.

"Inevitably, there will be some disruption but I am assured that measures are in place to minimise noise and that the site will continue to have security in place.

"There will be independent air pollution tests throughout the period as a way of reassuring the public that air quality standards will be strictly maintained.”

The Department for Education has been approached to grant permission for the site to be used for non-educational purposes in future, including housing.