A POLICE officer has thanked the Evening Advertiser for helping to get a death trap building demolished.

PC John Brixey, community beat officer for Eldene and Dorcan, is delighted that the derelict former SEB building on Faraday Road has begun to be knocked down.

It had become a make-shift playground for youngsters who risked their lives by playing among shattered glass and broken masonry left in the building.

The children had also climbed to the top of the building and hurled objects at passers-by in the street below.

PC Brixey's said: "Every time I carry out a patrol in the area I take a look at the progress on the building, and each time it's been demolished a little bit more, which is great to see.

"It was an absolute death trap for children and the fire brigade had a number of concerns about it.

"There is broken glass and masonry everywhere and the whole structure is very unsound.

"Someone must have broken a tap or a pipe in the building because we also found that there was water running through it.

"It meant than anyone in the building could have slipped and fallen.

"Without the Adver's intervention the matter would not have been resolved as quickly. You brought it to the notice of the public and spoke to the companies.

"Hopefully after reading the article parents would have stopped their kids from playing in there. This was a joint effort as far as I'm concerned."

The building used to be owned by Southern Electric but was sold to Swindon Council in 2001. It has been bought by Gloucestershire-based company Icon Two, which has plans to redevelop the site.

Diane Milne