Recorder readers have shared their memories of a "brilliant" pub in Harold Hill after its demolition recently started.

The Pompadours on Edenhall Road is being demolished to make way for 21 new homes on the site.

The pub has been empty since its closure in March 2016.

Residents took to Facebook to share memories of the pub from back in the day and their thoughts on its demolition.

Cam Harvey celebrated The Pompadours as a "brilliant pub", noting that a family friend had run it many "years ago".

Terry Wall remembered the pub by its other nickname, "the flying bottle", while David Warren reminisced about "many a good times in there".

The boot sale run in the car park during the week was also a fondly remembered event at The Pompadours.

Becky Prince shared her favourite memory of the pub, saying: "My mum running the bootsale on a Thursday."

Others reminisced about time spent with family and friends.

Linda Evans-Packham said: "Sixty years ago my grandad used to sit me in the porch with an orange and a packet of crisps while he had a pint."

Colin Holding commented: "Remember meeting up in there after football training & matches back in the late 70’s & early 80’s when we played & trained over Central Park."

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Despite this community feel back in its prime, fires and fly-tipping plagued the building since its closure.

In June 2018, travellers briefly occupied the site before leaving a significant amount of rubbish behind.

Back in 2015, there were plans to convert The Pompadours into 25 flats.

However, the idea was met with heavy resistance from the local community, and the plan was rejected by Havering Council as "excessively dense".

Now, Hilldene Estate Ltd has gained approval for 21 new homes.

Three years have passed since the approval was submitted and now demolition has started.

The new development will also include 36 car parking spaces and 42 bicycle spaces, with 35 per cent of the houses set to be 'affordable' homes.