A petition against plans to demolish a building in Bolton which has been around since just after Henry VIII has received more than 100 signatures.

Plans have been put forward to transform the former Lever Arms Pub in Darcy Lever into apartments and a cafe.

The building on Radcliffe Road, Darcy Lever, has been empty since 2020 and has been labelled beyond repair due to repeat acts of vandalism.

The proposal is for eight new apartments, one a triplex with three bedrooms, one a duplex with two bedrooms, four two bedroom flats and two one bedroom flats along with a community cafe.

But now objections to the proposal have come forward.

Gillian Lawson, who lives nearby, said she collected 100 signatures to a petition opposing the move within two hours.

She said: "I didn't have to hang about getting the signatures.

"It is a beautiful building.

"It was built just after Henry VIII was king.

"It should have been listed.

"There is nothing really in Darcy Lever apart from that.

"We talk about levelling up, I don't see why the little people should not be involved in levelling up.

"They could use the building  as a tram stop to Radcliffe.

"It takes two hours to get to Manchester from here."

She also said it was located near to a "blind bend" on the road with more cars there it would be a "car crash waiting to happen."

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Ward councillor Andrea Taylor Burke however said there was no other option to demolish it.

She said: "The Lever Arms is really a sad story. It was once a thriving pub and belonged to the the heart of Darcy Lever.
"The building has been left, for so long that it seems like there is no other option then to demolish.
"There are lots of residents who would like it to be restored, I received a petition from Gillian Lawson who lives across the road from the pub.

"It had over 100 signatures.
"These residents don't want the building torn down. Parts of this building are over 400 years old, yet it doesn't have any listings attached to it.
"I have also received views from many residents that they want it demolished as its an eyesore".