HEAVY machinery has been moved in to carry on the demolition process of an historic Worcester building.

Engineers moved into the Hylton Road building last week to begin removing the interior of the offices which once served the city's former sawmills.

The now vacant building, which has stood outside Cripplegate park since 1863, is set to be turned into extra parkland.

Graham Vass, senior engineer at Worcester City Council, said it was a six-week contract.

"We're hoping to salvage and recycle most of the older material including the slates from the clay tile roof, the bricks and stone window casing."

"The proposal is to create extra land for Cripplegate, so we will eventually landscape the area," he said.

Richard Greenway, of Greenway Landscape Architects, Worcester, said he could not believe this "outright vandalism" was being allowed to go ahead.

"Having to stand there and watch it disappear is an absolute disgrace, we are loosing an historical building and no one seems to be concerned it is going."

Planning Officer Peter Yates said it was not a listed building. He believes the extra greenery will enhance the Severn.