Demolition equipment rumbled onto the site of Cavendish House in Dudley yesterday as the final stage to raze the eyesore building to the ground got underway.

The towering block will be demolished to make way for an £82million development.

Demolition experts have been on site for several weeks stripping out the interior of the building. But now a giant claw will start breaking up the exterior of the building in stages – beginning with the side facing Duncan Edwards Way.

The move signals a major step forward in the town’s regeneration proposals which also includes the Midland Metro extension. Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said:

"People have had to put up with this eyesore block for decades and now it will finally be demolished. It’s taken a lot of hard work to get to this point, but we are now on cusp of a major regeneration plan which will change the Dudley skyline for ever.”

Earlier this year demolition experts moved onto the site to start a major internal clearance. But external demolition work is set to start within days, starting with the section of buildings next to Duncan Edwards Way.

As well as Cavendish House, a number of other surrounding buildings are to be knocked down. They include the former B&Q building, the former Rickshaw restaurant, a taxi office, a disused scout hut and the former Metro Bar pub.