A DERELICT pub in Flixton is finally being demolished by its owners after numerous complaints from residents in the area.

The former Brunels pub on Flixton Road was gutted by fire in November 1998, and has been left in a state of disrepair ever since. Residents living close to the building have voiced their concerns about the safety of the building and complained that it was an eyesore.

Now owners Scottish and Newcastle have condemned the ruined pub, which used to be Flixton Railway Station. It is being levelled as part of a clean-up operation along the railway between Urmston and Flixton.

The demolition is likely to go ahead later this month. Repairs are also being carried out on the bridge and platform at Flixton station, and Urmston station is going to be tidied up.

Bill Clarke, chairman of the Urmston town centre partnership, said residents would be pleased to see the pub go. Once demolished it will be a car park until another use is found for it.

He said: "We've had a lot of people asking for it to be knocked down. It has taken a long time for the owners to get round to doing it because there have been problems with insurance claims after the fire."

Residents have complained about children playing in the dangerous ruins, and some claim to have seen rats coming from the building. The eyesore has also attracted vandals.

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