An Ilkley company has started work on a £30 million contract - one of the largest retail developments in Yorkshire.

Quarmby Construction Company, from Grove Promenade, has started to demolish the old Seacroft District Centre and will be turning it into a multi-million shopping centre.

The 18-month project started when three Samsung 'munchers', especially ordered for the project, began to eat their way through the centre's pub and multi-storey car park.

The demolition will take place over a four-month period.

Quarmby's managing director, David Jones, said: "This is a significant development at a time when the Government policy has turned away from out-of-town retail centres."

The new centre will include a Tesco supermarket, parking for 727 cars and a petrol station.

And there is a sentimental link for Quarmby's demolition manager, Chris Moorhead, who grew up in Seacroft and has fond memories of the centre.

"As kids do, I spent a lot of time hanging around the shopping centre. It does feel a little strange knocking down so many memories."

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