Floral tributes left at demolition site of a derelict pub in Seacroft

Local residents said it was the "end of an era" as The Gate public house on Kentemere Avenue was brought to the ground.

Once a proper community boozer, it had fallen the way of so many locals and closed down only then to be a gathering point for drug users and vandals.

Over the last few years people living close to the pub had appealed for something to be done about the anti-social behaviour and it was an article in the Yorkshire Evening Post a year ago that helped start the process of taking control of the site back.

Vincentsia Ford lives next door to the pub and we featured her plight last March and as the bulldozers moved in last week she said: "It is through the Yorkshire Evening Post that it has come down so quick.

The demise of The Gate has been met with a mixed reaction from the community who have fond memories of the pub in its hey day.

Mrs Ford, 83, said: "It is the end of an era. I cried when I saw that bunch of flowers. On the card it said, 'To all those that drank in The Gate pub, God bless you all'.

"It closed down eventually because people don't go to pubs so much now. It went like that and just got worse, but it was a good pub believe me.

"When it first opened the staff all wore waistcoats. Tetley brewery it would have been. If the music was too loud they turned it down. They had turns, lovely singers. They had the best football team, they played at Elland Road. They beat everybody, it was marvellous. I am not a big drinker but I only went in if there was a do."

Last year Leeds City Council was given the go-ahead by members to acquire the tenant’s leasehold interest, demolish the building and re-develop the site for council housing through the

Council Housing Growth Programme.