An eyesore derelict Oldbury pub regularly targeted by arsonists will be demolished after its owners failed to comply with a legal notice served by Sandwell Council.

Demolition work will begin this week on the site of the former Dolls House pub in Newbury Lane.

The fire-damaged building, which has become an eyesore and a potential danger, will be demolished by council contractors after its owners failed to comply with a legal notice served on them.

Jan Britton, Sandwell Council chief executive, said: “The building has become an eyesore and a potential danger to the public. "Officers have repeatedly asked the owners to remedy the situation however the owners have failed to comply with the legal notice served on them."

He added: "After all of the works are completed the council will pursue the owners to recover the demolition costs.”

The seriously ruinous and dilapidated notice under S79 Building Act 1984 was served after repeated efforts by Sandwell Council’s building consultancy team and structural engineers to get the owners to secure the site and make the building safe.

Following the demolition the site will be levelled and graded. Trees on the land to side of the current building will be removed and a fence erected around the land to deter flytipping.