A FORMER nightclub in Worcester is finally being demolished and turned into housing.

Work to tear down the old Images nightclub in The Butts is due to get underway with developer Thorneloe planning to turn it into housing.

The company shared a photo of the site with scaffolding up ahead of the demolition.

Their tweet said: "Roof tiles off - demolition underway".

A spokesman for Thorneloe confirmed there is no set timetable for the demolition, with the site's location making it more complex than usual.

They did say, though, they were planning to have the work completed by 2023.

They said: "Demolition of the former Images Nightclub is now underway so calls for a "last hurrah" for "old times' sake" at Images won't be happening, sadly.

"It is difficult to say exactly how long the demolition will take, but given the site's sensitive location within the city centre, we'll be doing everything we can to minimise the disruption along The Butts.

"We anticipate the build period will take around 12 months from the start of construction and therefore completion should happen in early 2023."

Thorneloe Developments is transforming the site into an 83-bed purpose built student accommodation site.

Originally built back in 1870, the building ceased operating as a nightclub in 2012, when Funk closed down.

It was originally granted planning permission back in 2019 with the "eyesore" site earmarked for housing.

The original 112-bed plan was altered to an 110-bed nine-storey plan to make the accommodation building the same height as The Hive.

A subsequent plan asked for permission to build a 100-bed building but this was soon reduced to 89 beds before finally settling on an 83-bed building.

In 2014, the city council's licensing sub-committee gave the green light to the site becoming a club named Mamma Jammas, aimed at over 30s, despite fierce opposition from West Mercia Police who believed the venue would increase crime in the area.

But the plans never came to fruition and the eyesore building remained derelict.