A historic Grade II-listed building in the region has been earmarked for partial demolition by Network Rail after falling into a state of disrepair.

The firm has applied to Middlesbrough Council for listed building consent to demolish Zetland House, at the Grade II-listed Middlesbrough Station, which has stood empty for several years and has become an eyesore.

And Les Southerton, chief executive of the Town Centre Company, Middlesbrough's regeneration partnership, has welcomed the plan to remove the rundown building.

"We have been working quite productively with the different rail authorities and there have been some marked improvement at the train station," he said.

"We have seen improvements, but it will be nice to see Zetland House removed. It was built in the 1960s and no longer serves any purpose. We want to wipe the carbuncle away and restore the station to its former glory."

The office block, which was built in the 1960s and sits at a right angle to the main station buildings, is no longer fit for use due to high concentrations of asbestos, as well as an obsolete internal layout.

Should Network Rail's application be successful, it is anticipated that demolition work would be completed by April next year.