A SECTION OF Sunbridge Road has been closed for the week to enable the demolition of a warehouse building because it has become unsafe.

Bradford Council and the owner moved swiftly today after the bad weather caused by Storm Ciara meant further deterioration to the five-storey building.

Thomas Crompton, whose firm is demolishing the structure, said: "It has deteriorated over the last few years.

"There was an imminent and serious risk and action was needed for it to be taken down.

"It has to be taken down."

He said a lot of the floors had caved in and walls were leaning a significant amount after water had got into the building, which is part of the Goitside Conservation Area.

He said Sunbridge Road would remain closed for at least this week with Paradise Street, Water Lane and Wigan Street also part of an exclusion zone.

He added that because the building was so unsafe, his team would be demolishing it with high-reach machines.

A diversion is in place involving City Road, Westgate, Barry Street and Godwin Street.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “Due to the deteriorating condition of the former warehouse building on Sunbridge Road, we were concerned about the safety of passers-by. So the owner has commenced work on the building to make it safe.

“The owner has commissioned a contractor to carry out the work. We have put emergency road closures in place until the work is completed.

"We can’t put a time on this, as the progress of the work has been slowed down by the high winds, but it is proceeding as quickly as it can, given the obvious safety issues.”