Demolition of one of thee resort’s best-known buildings is under way in preparation for redevelopment.

The Routemaster Motel has stood at the end of the A14 at the gateway to the town since the 1960s, but in recent years has become vacant and fallen into disrepair.

It served as a 32-bed motel, but gradually was taken over by more and more office conversion, with some accommodation for truckers along with bar and restaurant.

As companies have for moved to more modern offices, it became derelict and a target for vandals.

Now the bulldozers have moved in to tear down the building – the site is owned by Trinity College, Cambridge – and create a 4.3-acre site which it is hoped will attract developers to provide an iconic, landmark building at the south entrance to the resort and its port – though at this stage no new plans have been put forward.

While a headquarters for a major port-related company is thought the likely option with Dock Gate Number One opposite, the site has attracted interest in the past for a hotel.

Six years ago Travelodge was granted permission for a 51-bed hotel with 1,689 sq metres of offices. The aim was to create an extended bar and restaurant for use by hotel customers as well as office staff based in the companies using the property, plus another extension to create another floor. Despite gaining planning approval, the company could not agree a deal for the site.