A 200-YEAR-old building in a Darlington conservation area faces demolition after an internal wall collapsed during renovation work.

Graham Levy, 44, was removing timber beams from the two former terrace shops at Haughton Green on Sunday afternoon when a chimney breast gave way and the dividing wall came crashing down.

Mr Levy suffered injuries to his arm and leg but was not seriously hurt. He and his partner, Barbara Dewing, own the building and were converting it into two one-bedroom cottages. They had already removed the roof and rear walls.

All that remains are the front walls, which are shored up with scaffolding to make the building safe.

The couple said a structural engineer had told them the building was unsafe, so they were using hand-held equipment on the main span beams when the wall collapsed.

Ms Dewing said: "Unfortunately, even the engineer didn't realise the wood beam above the fireplace was rotten, which was why it crumbled."

An officer from Darlington Council planning department said planning permission had been granted to extend and alter the building, but work had now been stopped and it would be subject to further planning applications.

He said: "We spoke to the owners on Tuesday and the indications are that they are to make an application for conservation area consent to demolish the rest of the building, accompanied by a new application to rebuild it."

June Jordinson, who ran her business, June's Hat Hire, from one of the shops for four years said she would be sad to see the building go.

She said: "It was in quite a bad state of repair when we were there and it would have taken a lot of work to convert it into cottages.

"The place was a bit shaky upstairs and I think the beams were keeping it in place.

"I was really happy there because it was very 'olde worlde' and it had a really nice atmosphere.

"I would hope that they rebuild it in the same character as it was."

Coun David Lyonette, who represents Haughton West for Darlington Council and who is a long-standing member of the planning committee, said he was disappointed at what had happened to the building.

He added: "It's a great pity. Quite a few people have spoken to me about it and the fact that it looks like it might be demolished.

"Any application that comes up is going to have to fit into the natural area of the village."