The council purchased the 10.5-acre site of Central Retail Park sits on Great Ancoats Street in 2017

Take a glimpse inside the eerie remains of one of the largest shopping centres in Manchester city centre as demolition begins.

The council bought Central Retail Park on Great Ancoats Street in 2017 in what was later described as the largest ever land purchase in the city centre.

The fee was not disclosed at the time due to commercial sensitivity.

TH Real Estate had held a long lease on the retail park since 1989 and had for some time been looking at plans to revitalise the dilapidated plot.

At one point there were plans for a large-scale supermarket, but since then Manchester's city centre housing market has experienced a boom.

Now the council wants the 10.5 acre site, which runs between the Rochdale Canal and Old Mill Street, to be part of the burgeoning Ancoats and New Islington neighbourhoods.

There is currently no developer lined up to take the site forward, but the council says a masterplan will be drawn up in the coming months.

There has been a retail presence at the park since the 1980s, but in recent years the shops have struggled.

A flagship Toys R Us store closed last year when the iconic children's retailer went into administration.

Today workmen were on site as demolition work began, piece-by-piece in some areas.

The frontage was pried off by hand using just a crow bar and brute sterngth.

All that's left of the former bustling shopping centre is some empty tills and 'closing down sale' signs.

Manchester City Council said a masterplan for the site will be drawn up in the coming months.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: "It is the Council’s ambition to transform the former Central Retail Park as a key gateway into the Ancoats and New Islington neighbourhoods.

"Demolition has begun on the existing properties to prepare the site for redevelopment while a Masterplan is drawn up for the site.

"The Development Framework and any subsequent planning applications for all or part of the site will be subject to full consultation and the Council will also be considering interim uses."