Work to demolish a prominent community hall is well underway as diggers have started to bulldoze the 50-year-old building.

The Bockhanger Community Centre in Kennington is set to be reduced to rubble and replaced with topsoil until a decision about its redevelopment is made.

Preparation work began in January, but the demolition was delayed while traces of asbestos were removed from the building.

The demolition is costing £150,000.

A decision was made to demolish the community centre last May as council chiefs said that the building was "beyond economic repair".

A spokesman from Ashford Borough Council (ABC) said: "Given the considerable expense of rebuilding the hall, the closeness of other community facilities in the vicinity and the limited use the hall in recent years the decision to knock down Bockhanger Community Centre was made in May last year.

"Over recent years the hall has not been well used and previous tenants such as the library, the nursery and other sports clubs have found more suitable premises at the nearby Sure Steps Children’s Centre in the Phoenix Community School, which is next to the site.

"Surveys were carried out to assess the viability of bringing the hall up to modern standards but they highlighted the poor condition of the building and therefore keeping it open would result in spiralling repair and operating costs. The building is more than 50 years old and is sadly beyond economic repair, with the council having kept it open beyond its expected design life."

A petition calling on Ashford Borough Council (ABC) to replace the community centre was launched in the new year.

Charing resident Diccon Spain is behind the campaign, which has since gained more than 450 signatures.

Writing on the Change.org page, Mr Spain said: "The council have closed and decided to demolish the Bockhanger Community Centre without consulting local people, and with no firm commitment or timeline to build a replacement.

"The Bockhanger community centre is vitally important for the community, helping people to meet, socialise, stay active, and build their community.

"It is hard to understand how ABC could decide to raze the community centre to the ground not only without consulting local people first, but also without giving a clear timescale or commitment to replace it."

Click here to view the petition.