Demolition work has transformed an historic industrial riverside site.

Nearly all of the former Garnett paper mill's buildings, in Otley, have been knocked down as preparation work finally begins for a 194-home redevelopment.

Workmen for David Wilson Homes began clearing the area off Mill Lane, whose links to paper production stretch back nearly 300 years, on Monday.

The move marks the disappearance of part of the town's industrial heritage but also signals some long-anticipated progress on a new housing scheme that was approved back in 2011.

Otley Town Council leader Councillor John Eveleigh (above) (Lab, Ashfield) said: “Although this marks the end of an important piece of Otley's industrial heritage it must be seen as positive that an enormous area of land, previously land-locked, will now be developed.”

A spokesman for David Wilson Homes said: “We are hoping to start work on houses before the end of the year.”