THE fire-hit Beechmere Extra Care Facility has vanished from the skyline at Rolls Avenue.

Demolition work carried out over the past month has seen the devastated residential home razed to the ground, as our pictures show. Fire tore through the timber-clad property last August when its 150 elderly and disabled residents were evacuated.

Owners Avantage (Cheshire) want to build a 132-apartment replacement home on its footprint and the plans are due to go to Cheshire East Council's southern planning committee on September 2.

They can be seen here

Crewe Town councillors have welcomed the move to install sprinklers in the new building.

They want assurances all fire prevention measures have been incorporated, including closing off the roof voids. The fire, whose cause was accidental, started in a roof terrace.

Details of the destroyed home are being replicated and the scheme includes a range of similar facilities including a restaurant, village hall, fitness suite, IT room, hair salon and residents' lounge.