Scaffolding was being removed from the front of a town centre development in Bury St Edmunds today ... in time for the start of the Christmas Fayre.

Up to seven workmen were clambering around Chapter House, which fronts onto Abbeygate Street, removing poles, ties and boards from the structure.

One of the workmen said: “We’re planning to get it down by today but the rest will remain in place for the next two to three months.”

Six high spec luxury flats are being created on three floors with plans for Gastromo-me Resturants Ltd to move into the ground floor and basement of the property.

There will be three flats on the first floor, two on the second and a penthouse on the third floor with all having a minimum sale price of £275,000 each.

Work started on the site in March this year with the scaffold erected in June with as many as 20 workers, including some from Bury, Mildenhall and Haverhill, being employed on the site over the past few months.

Entrance to the flats is in Lower Baxter Street and includes disabled acces with a lift with the flats all having between one and two bedrooms and is aimed at the 50-plus age bracket.

Gastrono-me Restaurants Ltd have already applied for a drinks licence for the building which used to be the site for Abbey Pharmacy which has moved into Guildhall Surgery, in Lower Baxter Street.