Work on Wantage's new £20m shopping development has started - after a wait of more than 15 years.

Townspeople have welcomed the beginning of the long-awaited Limborough Road scheme, which will transform a semi-derelict industrial estate into a retail park. The project - which will provide a Sainsburys supermarket, seven shops, six retail warehouses and a petrol station - began with the dismantling of a former bus garage to make way for a new access road from Grove Street.

A neighbouring scrapyard will be given over to housing. The combined retail and housing development is expected to boost the town's hard-pressed shops.

Town councillors and invited members of the Vale of White Horse District Council gathered on the site to see demolition work begin.

Bill Atkinson, managing director of Wantage-based development consultant Bushbuy, said: "This is a very important day in Wantage's long history.

"It finally sees commencement of the long awaited redevelopment of Wantage town centre - currently 18 acres of industrial estate and scrapyard.

"The Wantage and Grove Lib Dem district councillors have been a tower of strength in making this happen. Their support and encouragement in the difficult times has been vital. They really have served the people of Wantage magnificently."

Town mayor Jenny Hannaby said: "I feel extremely emotional that all the hard work has at last come to fruition. It is a historic day for Wantage.

"I look forward to seeing the town develop over coming years."

Bogdan Nedelkoff, of BHP Harwood Architects in Wantage, which is designing the site, said: "We started work on this 15 years ago.

"Several developers have tried to put it together but, because of the complexity of the ownership, it took such an extraordinary time that few could continue. It is down to dogged determination that this is happening."