THE Gazette's former offices in Dursley were demolished yesterday (Monday, July 10).

The offices have been bulldozed to make way for a long-stay car park.

Demolition contractor Smiths (Gloucester) Ltd started work at the Reliance House site in Long Street last week.

The first dismantled the interior of the offices before demolishing the building on Monday.

The work is expected to take no more than four weeks to complete.

Dursley Town Council bought the former newspaper offices and printworks site for £475,000.

It will be replaced with a total of 50 car parking spaces, including disabled spaces, for residents’ use. There will also be cycle parking too available.

The new car park will open in October, in time for Dursley Walking Festival which runs from October 3.

The offices were home to the Gloucestershire Gazette from 1966 until September 2015.

The Gazette recently joined the town's mayor, Cllr Neil Grecian, deputy mayor Cllr Mandy Woodward, town clerk John Kay and demolition contractor Tony Niblett for a farewell tour of the building.

Gazette journalists, equipped with laptops and mobile phones, now work on the move, attending meetings, interviewing people and hearing their stories just as they always have.

They have a base in Stroud, but can be contacted by email or phone: 01453 769422.