Work has started to demolish part of Cumbria County Council's former home in the heart of Carlisle.

It is expected to take another month for the Lonsdale Building and buildings in the Lower Gaol Yard area to be knocked down and the area cleared.

They sit close to one of the distinctive Citadel buildings, which was home to the county council before it switched operations to the newly-built Cumbria House on nearby Botchergate.

A contractor was appointed to demolish the buildings last year.

Stewart Young, leader of Cumbria County Council, said: "I don't feel any sadness for the buildings being knocked down as they were at the end of their life anyway.

"If we had stayed there we would have had to spend a lot of money on the building so I see the demolition as a positive thing."

Demolition is due for completion in May.

Mr Young said the council was paying for the demolition itself.

Plans for the site to be used as a car park appear to still be on the cards.

A county council spokesman said: "It is planned to be a car park, we will be submitting the planning application shortly."

Mr Young added: "The car park will be on ground level and have space for about 90 cars. There will be five disabled spaces and five electric charging points as well as bike racks.

"We have to apply for change of use to turn it into a car park so there will be a planning application to do that."

Meanwhile, there are concerns for the future of the wider Citadel area.

The Central Plaza Hotel remains in a state of disrepair and the Cookware shop on the Viaduct has also shut down.

The former Dickinsons store - which closed last year - looks set to become a Home store for the British Heart Foundation charity shop.

An Under Offer sign has gone up on the building.

It would sell a range of electrical goods as well as bedding and items for the home.