Pews and gargoyles from a historic Bingley church are to be flown to destinations across the world.

Demolition workers have moved in to raze Mornington Road Methodist Church to the ground to make way for a modern chapel and 12 homes.

The pews are being sent to a church in California, the stained glass windows will be going to Japan and Australia will be the gargoyles' new home.

Once the Victorian building is stripped, Bradford demolition company W and S Reidy will begin knocking it down.

Bill Reidy, who runs the company, said: "It's sad when you have to knock such a beautiful church down, but you can't stand in the way of progress.

"We are resalvaging all that we can and the project should take 12 weeks."

Views on the future of the landmark church, which is a Grade II listed building, have divided the community and, after years of debate, the church was given permission to demolish the building.

Lemmeleg Building Contractors of Wakefield has permission to build a new church, six houses and six flats.

The bid sparked a 145-signature petition and 70 letters of objection but was approved by Shipley Area Planning Panel in July last year.

Keith Thompson, who was organist at the church from 1967 to 1974 and lives nearby, said the church had excellent acoustics.

"The organ wasn't a brilliant one but playing it in there made it sound like a cathedral organ," he said.

"It's very upsetting to see the church go as a lot of people in the town fought hard to try to save it and raised money to have it re-roofed, but now we have to sit back and watch it being knocked down."

The Reverend Ruth Parry, minister of the church, said the building was too big for today's needs and had become too costly to maintain.

"It's a draughty building and not suitable for people with disabilities," she said.

"The new building will be suitable for the needs of a wider community."