A burned out pub which was due to be turned into a supermarket is finally being demolished, almost a year after planning permission was granted.

Tesco applied on three occasions to build a store and residential development, on the Happy Man Pub in Berry Lane, and were granted planning permission in May 2010.

Three Rivers District Council was told in November that the pub would be demolished by Christmas, but the building was still standing well into the new year.

Today, construction workers moved in and started taking the old pub apart.

Three Rivers District councillor Les Mead, said: "What a relief for those residents who live in the immediate vicinity.

"I think we have all got fed up with the charred skeleton of the building standing up above the fencing."

The third lot of plans for the site showed a scaled-down development of four flats instead of eight, built on two levels rather than three.

Despite these alterations, residents and shop owners sent 449 letters of objection, including an 800 signature petition, largely due to concerns over lack of parking and the increase in traffic which the store would bring.

Are you at the site? Send any pictures to abinnie@london.newsquest.co.uk.