WORK has finally begun to demolish a derelict hotel in Abersoch in preparation for a new luxury development which is set to create over 100 jobs for the area.

Flintshire-based developers BroomCo received planning permission in March 2015 for the groundbreaking £11.7m spa hotel which will replace the former White House Hotel.

Work was initially delayed last year after the discovery of a rare Lesser Horseshoe bat living in the building.

This led to the developers contacting Cambrian Ecology to help them re-home one of the smallest of the British bat species in a custom-made bat-house in the White House’s grounds.

Cllr Wyn Williams, who represents Abersoch on Gwynedd Council, said he was delighted to see the building finally being taken down.

He said: “I’m delighted the former White House Hotel is finally coming down. It was an eyesore for the village and not nice to see when you drive into Abersoch.”

Read the full story in this week’s Arfon/Dwyfor edition