WORK is well underway on the demolition of Otley's closed auction mart.

Demolition work started earlier this month on the former Bridge End auction mart and is expected to take a few more weeks -- though council planners still have to give formal consent.

The mart, which opened in 1935, closed in 2000 because of rising costs and plunging prices in the farming industry. When it closed, the mart was operating twice a week and was one of two in the town. The other, Wharfedale Farmers Auction Mart in Leeds Road, remains open.

Since it closed, the site at Bridge End has become increasingly derelict. It has suffered repeated arson attacks and vandalism and in the summer was occupied for several weeks by travellers.

Owner Karl Kunz said in the summer that he intended to demolish the buildings on the site in a bid to make it more attractive to potential users. An attempt to let the site out earlier in the year had failed and he believed clearing the buildings would make it more attractive.

Elaine Kunz said yesterday that the buildings had become dangerous and could have posed a risk to anyone on the site.

"We would have been liable if anyone had hurt themselves and we decided to demolish. There is no need for a cattle market there as there is another one in Otley," she said.

Mrs Kunz said the area was still used by Yorkshire Television to park cars but at the moment, its future was unclear.

"We will just have to see how it goes and once the buildings have been demolished, we'll look at the site again."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "The owners of the site have given the council notice that they intend to demolish buildings on the auction mart site. However, this site is in a conservation area and planning consent is needed. This has not been applied for or granted.

"A planning enforcement officer has visited the site and we are currently in discussion with the landowners regarding the situation."