THE demolition of an historic pub in Wirral has been met with anger and sadness from local campaigners and politicians.

A community group had been campaigning to save the Great Eastern, in New Ferry, which closed in 2007.

The pub was built in 1862 with a number of relics and panels from Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Eastern, which was broken up for scrap at Rock Ferry in the same century.

However, the ship's bar and a stained glass window were removed during the 1980s and English Heritage said it was unsuitable for listing because no artefacts from the ship remained and significant alterations had been made to the building.

Cllr Steve Niblock said they had accepted it was unlikely to remain a pub but they had hoped for a sympathetic development retaining the historic building.

Developer Southport-based owners Worksharp Eco Homes Ltd said it wants to build 10 semi-detached family homes on the site, replacing a building it described as “in a state of serious disrepair”. Demolition began late last week ahead of a site meeting by Wirral Council’s planning committee, which is considering the application for homes there.

Cllr Niblock said: “Yet another piece of local history disappearing. Now it’s a free-for-all for whatever development they can get past the planning committee.”

Fellow councillor Irene Williams said the demolition was “very sad”, and Wirral Council “heritage champion” Cllr Jerry Williams said he was appalled by the destruction of “an iconic building for New Ferry”.