After nearly half a century as the focal point for law and order in Ipswich, demolition of the town’s former police station is now well under way.

Contractors RG Carter have been preparing for the demolition for several weeks and the main work has now started in earnest.

The actual demolition was delayed a week after surveyors discovered an underground water main and other utilities beneath the building – and work was needed to make them safe before the heavy demolition equipment could start its work.

The first chunks from the top of the five-storey building came out last week and the entire site is due to be flattened by the end of the summer.

The building, and the site, is now owned by the borough – but eventually it is expected that it will be added to the neighbouring former Civic Centre site for a comprehensive redevelopment.

However that could be several years away and the current site could end up as a temporary car park for some time – which could be especially useful next year as the Crown car park is likely to be closed for most of 2016 to allow a new multi-storey car park to be built there.

Borough leader David Ellesmere said: “It is a building which has been part of the town for many years. Many who worked there will have fond memories of it – others might not have such fond memories of it!

“But it was not realistic to extend its life so it is important to clear the site and allow it to be redeveloped over the next few years.”