Mayor Denis Strange has joined efforts to pull down an unpopular eyesore.

He gave demolition workers in Wallingford town centre a hand by getting stuck in with a pneumatic drill.

Mr Strange said the redevelopment of shops in St Martin's Street was long overdue and hailed it as the start of a renaissance for the town's historic Market Place.

The much-hated concrete block has blighted the northern entrance to the Market Place for decades, but is now being pulled down to make way for a new shopping and housing development. The scheme will see the construction of five shop units and seven housing association flats, which will be built in a mixture of Georgian and Victorian styles. The shops are due to be completed in the autumn.

Mr Strange said: "It is going to look super when it is finished. The new shops will be much more in keeping with the style of the town. It is going to be a tremendous improvement.

The concrete block should never have been built - and those who allowed it have a lot to answer for."

Ray Smiles, site manager for Newbury-based Feltham Construction which is carrying out the work, said: "Everything is going well. Unfortunately, we are on top of everyone here and there is some dust and noise.

Everyone is looking forward to seeing it finished, but you can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs, and we are trying to keep the nuisance to a minimum.

"It will be worth it when it is finished.

It will give the street back its Georgian look, and will fit in really well."