DEMOLITION work has started on a Victorian school in Bradford attended by famous artist David Hockney - despite a campaign to try to save it.

The battle to stop the former Hutton Middle School in Eccleshill being flattened was finally lost when workers began pulling the building down.

Bradford Council had given planning consent to the Gregory Property Group for the demolition of the former school which will be replaced by 29 houses.

It is understood the company is still finalising a deal to buy the site from its existing owner which has given the go-ahead for demolition to start.

Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, joined the fight to save the former school - which is not a listed structure - but said his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Andy Chilton, who led the campaign to save it, said its demolition would be a loss to Bradford's heritage.

"What I have learned from this is no amount of logical effort is enough. I had experts behind me who were providing really good advice," he said.

"But it did not matter one jot because I think the decision had already been made."

Mr Chilton continued: "The work we did on the campaign, such as getting that architect to do an alternative scheme which would have looked great in the village.

"They are not thinking about the long-term impact. People are always referring back to how beautiful Bradford used to be.

"I think we are needlessly chucking away some beautiful buildings to instead throw up some concrete structures.

"It is a crying shame that such workmanship is to be lost."

"There is nothing that can be done now. It is the death of Bradford's heritage and possibly the nation's heritage at the hands of the national planning policy framework, and not having clever, holistic thinking Councils.

"They are not thinking about how they protect heritage - that is the sentiment echoed by many of the people who have objected to the Hutton plans."

Mr Hussain said: "I am extremely disappointed by the decision to begin demolition of Hutton Middle School."

Mr Hussain added that he was disappointed that Gregory would not be incorporating the new flats into the existing building to "maintain its architectural qualities".

James Hughes, senior conservation adviser at the Victorian Society, said: "The unnecessary demolition of the former Hutton Middle School makes for sad viewing.

"Unlisted buildings like this have lots of potential for conversion into flats.

"However, it was encouraging to see the community galvanised and working together to try to save this attractive building. In future, I hope Eccleshill will be better placed to oppose the loss of historic buildings - including informing us as soon as possible of any threats to important Victorian buildings."

No-one at the Gregory Property Group was able to respond to the criticisms.