The demolition of a prominent community centre has been pushed back until the end of May.

Hoardings were erected around the Joe Fagg Pop Inn Centre in St Johns Lane, Ashford to prepare for the demolition around a month ago.

It comes after Ashford Borough Council (ABC) submitted plans to bulldoze the 35-year-old community building and replace it with nine additional parking spaces.

Demolition work was set to commence once traces of asbestos had been removed from the site; in order to make the site safe for UK Power Network (UKPN) staff to disconnect the power supply.

But now, work to flatten the derelict building has been delayed following the discovery of additional asbestos.

An ABC spokesman said: "The project has experienced some delays due to additional asbestos being detected.

"As soon as this has been completed, work to demolish the building will re-commence.

"We anticipate that the demolition and re-instatement works of the former Joe Fagg Pop Inn Social Centre will be complete by the end of May."

Once preparation work is complete and the centre is made safe, it will take contractors around four weeks to demolish and clear the site.

In 1984, Age UK was given temporary planning permission for the building, which is next to the Vicarage Lane Car Park. It was renewed in 1989 with the condition that once the lease ran out the building would be demolished.

The charity surrendered its lease last year, handing control to the borough council.

Joe Fagg was a popular local haulage firm owner who provided coach tours for older Ashford residents and supplied the vehicles and drivers for the town's carnival floats.

Called 'Mr Ashford', the former Ashford Football Club manager was awarded an MBE in the 1980's. He was also captain of the golf club, chairman of the local gala day committee and a rotarian.

When Age UK transitioned to its new Stanhope Road centre, Mr Fagg's name was also transferred to the new facility.

Last month, bosses told Kent Online that the community service could move back to the town centre as footfall has fallen since moving to an out-of-town site.

The council revealed bold plans to turn the former Mecca Bingo building and town centre car park into a multi-million pound leisure complex earlier this year.

ABC hopes to partially demolish the ex-Odeon, replacing it with a large outdoor cinema screen, cafes and bars and a pedestrian route leading to a new public square on the car park.

Read more: All the latest news from Ashford