ANOTHER part of Guiseley's industrial heritage has disappeared with the completion of demolition work at the former Brook Crompton and Crompton Parkinson works site.

The Netherfield Road plot, like that of the former Silver Cross pram factory off Otley Road, now lies empty in preparation for a 200-home and offices/workshops development.

The final part of the site, the distinctive frontage sporting the words Crompton Parkinson' in white lettering, was cleared last Friday.

Guiseley photographer John Waite was one of many passing motorists who stopped to witness the demolition of what has been a local landmark since the 1930s.

He said: "I just happened to be going down there and saw that whole frontage of Crompton Parkinson, which has been there as long as I can remember, quite literally hitting the dust.

"That's just about the last part of the site flattened now, they're just grinding everything up into hardcore.

"Many drivers took the opportunity to get out of their cars to watch."

The demolition was carried out by F Hardwick Ltd, who took the building down bit by bit to minimise disruption to traffic.

Crompton Parkinson was formed in 1927 when Crompton Lighting - still running as one of Cooper Lighting and Security Ltd's brands - went into partnership with motor manufacturer F and A W Parkinson. The partnership was taken over by the Hawker Siddeley group in 1968 and Crompton Lighting was later bought in a management buyout, before being taken over in 1999 by Cooper Industries Inc.

But the production of light bulbs proved cheaper abroad and the Guiseley factory produced its last lamps in May, 2002, although it continued as a warehouse.

Two years later former sister company Brook Crompton announced it would be closing its neighbouring motor producing factory, with the loss of 225 jobs.

That cleared the way for developers to target the 15-acre combined site, and in March outline approval was granted to St Modwen Properties plc and Bellway Homes to build housing and 25,000 sq ft of offices/industrial workshops there.