ONE of the town centre's major landmarks is being bulldozed.

Demolition work started last week on the old market hall behind the Port Arcades.

As part of a major facelift scheme, the market and flea market have moved into the former Asda store nearby, while Asda has opened its new Supercentre on what was the car park of the original store.

When the wrecking crews move out the site of the market hall, which was opened on December 5, 1972 by the then-mayor Councillor H Townsend, will provide much-needed extra car parking.

There are unlikely to be any tears shed for the loss of the building which had become under-used and down-at-heel in recent years.

The borough council's property unit manager Julie Powell said: 'I think most people will be delighted to see the old market coming down.

'We have the popular new market up and running and removal of the old one will mean around 250 more parking spaces for the town centre.'

* The public toilets in Ellesmere Port town centre have been closed while the old market is demolished.

People can use the toilets in the new market any day except Wednesday, when the market is closed.

The nearest alternative toilets are in Asda, where there are also baby changing facilities.

The demolition of the old market is scheduled to take six to eight weeks.