WORK is under way to transform a dilapidated building on a key site in Cleckheaton into a Chinese restaurant.

Scholes couple Weicheng and Chau Sang Lin bought the rundown former shop in Dewsbury Road near the junction with St Peg Lane last year. Boarding went up around the old Park Fisheries site last week and building work has now begun in earnest.

The pair, who have run a takeaway called Wok Ever in Westfield Lane, Scholes, for the last eight years, now hope to open a restaurant called Wok Ever Palace in November.

Mr Lin, who is also known as Jack, told the Telegraph & Argus that the financial support of family back in China had helped them realise their restaurant plans in what will be a £400,000 project.

The 33-year-old said: "We bought the building at auction before Christmas.

"There is a lot of work that needs doing, both inside the building and outside, as it is just a shell. It needs a new roof too, but our builders say the work should be done in three months, so it will probably be November when we open.

"We have been running a takeaway in Scholes for eight years and it has got a good name. So this is the next step. We couldn't have done any of this without the financial support of our family."

He added that the restaurant plans will be over two floors and include a function room with karaoke. It will seat 112 and will offer set price, all-you-can-eat dining, where the food is cooked fresh to order, rather than a buffet style restaurant.

"We prefer to do it this way," he said. "That way the food is fresh and hot."

Planning permission and an alcohol licence have already been granted for the premises, allowing the business to open from noon to midnight seven days a week.

Councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) welcomed the redevelopment of the building, which has been empty on and off over the last decade. Most recently it was a Polish food store.

Cllr Pinnock said: "It's really good news for Cleckheaton that somebody is willing to invest a considerable sum of money doing it up.

"As it will be a restaurant, people can easily walk there from the big car park in town. It just adds to the food offer in the town and will mean one of the oldest buildings will be restored and open for business again."

Tesco originally bought the building as part of its bid to build a new supermarket on a nearby site at St Peg Lane, in order for junction improvements to be carried out.

But Kirklees Council wanted to build a new school on the site instead. A new purpose-built primary school, called Howard Park Community School, opened there in 2009.