WORK started on demolishing Chesterfield House, in Stanhope Road, Darlington yesterday.

The controversial scheme to build 30 two and three-bedroom apartments on the site of the house, which was built in 1914 to accommodate doctors and nurses, was approved in January after a battle to save the building.

Darlington Borough Council backed the project.

MMP Construction (NE) Limited is carrying out the demolition and development work and the first residents are expected to move in by next May.

Darlington Homes, which owns the site, has assured residents that disruption during construction is to be kept to a minimum