A former public house, which served its last pint of beer more than two years ago, is finally being knocked down - to make way for a new highquality office scheme.

The Old Union Mill, in Holt Street, Birmingham, closed down in December 2003 after being acquired by nearby Aston Science Park for the next phase of its £100 million redevelopment programme.

Now contractors have moved in to demolish the 1950s-built building.

Dr Derek Harris, chief executive of Aston Science Park, said: "Dozens of people working at companies located on the Science Park campus will be amongst those who remember the Old Union Mill with a great deal of affection. But I am afraid its days are numbered now that another stage of our redevelopment programme nears reality."

Dr Harris said the site was to be amalgamated with an adjacent one and developed into 130,000 sq ft of office accommodation. Funding for the demolition and acquisition of the site had been made with assistance from the European Regional Development Fund and regional development agency Advantage West Midlands.