THE national lockdown hasn't stopped town centre demolition work with Victoria Street's shopping row the next to fall.

This week contractors, Cawarden, resumed their project to clear the Royal Arcade site with a May completion target. The demo crew have been watched by a handful braving this week's bitter chill.

Now only the former Wetherspoons, Gaffers Row, part of a vape shop and the cornerpiece to Queensway, the one-time BHS store, are left visible as our Nub News video shows today (Wednesday).

Most of Queensway's row was levelled before Christmas with the exception of Big Bill, which has been taken down in stages, while the clock tower's former clock faces, machinery and bells have been transported to Crewe Heritage Centre for future preservation.

The demolition work is being carried out on behalf of Cheshire East Council and its developer Peveril Securities Ltd, whose long-term regeneration plan for Crewe town centre includes a new bus interchange and a multi-storey car park to be followed by a modern shopping mall with a bowling alley and a multi-screen cinema.

The council said that a development agreement it signed with its development partner last October would pave the way for future planning applications for the scheme.