A TOWN centre eyesore has finally been reduced to rubble.

The demolition of the former Keddies store, in Queen Street, Colchester, has been completed to make way for a £30 million overhaul of the area.

In its place will be an 87-bed Travelodge hotel as well as a number of new bars and restaurants.

Braintree and Witham Times: Rejected: Funding bid to transform the former Keddies building in Queen Street has been turned down

Before - the building as it was before demolition 

A Curzon cinema is set to open in the new year to coincide with Oscar season.

St James’ House was previously home to the bustling department store, which closed in the 1980s and has been vacant since, attracting rough sleepers and bouts of antisocial behaviour.

Construction is due to begin next year.

Braintree and Witham Times:

Plans - how the new quarter could look from Queen Street 

The food and drink-led leisure project is being led by the Norwich-based Building Partnerships.

The development will also include a student accommodation building and a new public walkway which will connect Queen Street to Firstsite.

The Waiting Room has also been demolished.