SCAFFOLDING that has surrounded a Hereford eyesore for nearly a decade is finally coming down, revealing a building transformed.

Numbers 16-18 High Town were devastated by the fire that ripped through the historic buildings in October 2010.

It began in the Card Factory at about 4.30am in the morning and spread to a number of neighbouring shops.

Four people were evacuated from city centre flats, but no one was injured.

A series of problems hit would-be developers, and the original buildings, gutted by the fire that required more than 100 firefighters to bring it under control, stood empty for several years.

The end of the saga finally looked to be in place when Birmingham-based developer Elevate Property Group bought the site with its Grade II façade in early 2017, hoping to start work as soon as possible.

But the developers faced a series of hurdles to overcome. There was an ongoing saga over power provision to the site after an electricity sub-station was destroyed in the fire.

Then Saxon ramparts dating back to the late 9th century were discovered within the foundations, requiring careful archaeological assessment and chronicling by county experts.

Work has since ploughed on. and now a £7 million development of 18 penthouses, apartments and townhouses has been engineered from the charred remains.

There are also two retail units fronting High Town at the site.