Scarborough Futurist theatre demolition begins Published duration 5 June 2018

image caption Campaigners tried to prevent the demolition but it was approved by councillors last year

The demolition of a seafront theatre in Scarborough has begun following a long fight by campaigners to save it.

The Futurist opened in 1921 and hosted many artists - including famously The Beatles in 1963 - but closed in 2014.

Scarborough Borough Council planners decided last year to demolish the building at a cost of £4m.

Campaigners had hoped to run it as a charitable trust but the council said it was not sustainable as a theatrical venue.

A number of objections to the plans were made from the Theatre Trust, The Cinema Theatre Association, SAVE Britain's Heritage and the Twentieth Century Society, who said the building was a surviving example of the "super cinemas" built after World War One.

The Futurist was originally built as a cinema but the stage was extended in the late 1950s to enable it to host live performances.

image caption Cladding on the front of the building was removed in April

image copyright Google image caption Built as a cinema, the Futurist was extended in the late 1950s to host live music

The site is earmarked to become the home of a new attraction from Flamingo Land - a theme park in Malton, North Yorkshire.

Cladding on the front of the building was removed in April and work has finally begun on knocking parts of it down.