VIDEO footage shows a landmark Barrow church being removed from the town's skyline.

St Luke's Church, in Roose Road, Barrow, hasn't been used for regular services since 2008 when structural problems and high maintenance bills forced it to close.

A special final service was held outside the church in February 2012. Barrow Borough Council's planning committee agreed for the site to be demolished so that new housing comprising of 16 one-bedroom apartments and a single-storey bungalow can be built.

Today, demolition work has started, with bulldozers quickly ripping through the church's concrete.

Gary Cregeen, who has been the team rector of South Barrow for four-and-a-half years and is responsible for leading services in churches in the parish, has previously told the Evening Mail that he was thrilled to hear that the redevelopment had been granted by the council.

He said: "Buildings, such as St Luke’s hold a special place in people’s lives – not least if the building has been the venue for a significant life event, such as a wedding, christening or funeral.

"The congregation at St Luke’s was very much an active community involved in lots of activities and this added to the sense of loss. For my part it was a case of taking steps which could assist a healing process for those who lamented the closure of St Luke’s, which had been a difficult but necessary decision."

The church was previously owned by the diocese of Carlisle and the parochial church of St George with St Luke, however, the building has now been sold to HB Villages who will develop homes which are specifically designed for vulnerable adults with learning and physical disabilities.

Two residential buildings made up of 16 one bedroom apartments and a single storey bungalow will be developed, with each dwelling containing 24-hour on-site home support.

The homes will be specifically designed for vulnerable adults with learning and physical disabilities and the support will be given by Lifeways, one of the country's leading providers of support services.