A HISTORIC building which became a target for vandals is being demolished to make way for new housing.

Many locals are sad to see the former candle factory at Loftus flattened.

However, the building has been empty for years and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has given permission for a bungalow and parking spaces to be built on-site by a local developer. Work started this week to demolish the 150-year-old building, which is thought to be the last surviving candle factory in the borough.

At the Loftus site in the mid-19th Century, Thomas Rowland built the factory to meet the demand for candles.

He also built a row of cottages, Rowland's Terrace, opposite East Crescent, for his factory workers. Tallow, which came from the hard fat of cattle or sheep, was transported to the factory for processing and candle-making of all kinds.

Borough councillor and local historian Eric Jackson said: "Tallow candles were known as dips.

"The smell from the works aroused a lot of complaints to the then local board.

"However, as demand fell away, by the 1890s, of the 11 houses, ten were unoccupied, with only the tallow chandler, John Leeming, and his wife living there."

Candle-making ceased around 1895. Later, the building was used as Loftus fire station and by joiners and undertakers. In the First World War, it was used as a drill hall and firing range.