Demolition teams have moved in to tear down another piece of Epsom's history - Epsom County Court.

Planning permission to demolish the 1930's court house, which has not been in use for several years, to create 46 flats, a medical centre and basement car park was initially refused in April 2010 but was approved in February, allowing Country and Metropolitan Homes, part of Gladedale Homes, to start work.

A 67-year-old Epsom resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "It’s just a beautiful building that could have been converted into something else.

"It’s part of Epsom’s heritage and we are losing everything.

"The police station is closing and the courts closed, the fire engines are going to go and nobody seems to care.

"I see more of my town disappearing and I just find it really quite sad."

David Brooks, museum assistant at Bourne Hall, added: "It was quite a nice art deco building "We have got no county court, no magistrate’s court and we are losing a police station.

"It does downgrade the town a bit."

Epsom County Court opened in 1847 and was moved into the purpose built court house in the Parade, Epsom in the early 1930s receiving a Royal Coat of arms from King George V which was embedded in Portland Stone above the door frame.

It is understood that the crest will be preserved during the demolition and suitably re-homed.

A spokesperson for Country and Metropolitan Homes said: "When we were on site last week the demolition contractor was preparing to carefully take down the crest, with a view to passing it on to a local historian.

"There are no plans to incorporate this in the new building."

It was also announced in December that Epsom's working County Court in East Street would be closed as part of government reforms to save money.

The Minister of Justice argued that £551,000 would be saved in operating costs by closing Epsom County Court claiming that "increasing use of internet and email to communicate and access services" negates the need for local, tangible public services.

Cases previously dealt with by Epsom County Court are now split between Croydon County Court, Guildford County Court, Kingston County Court and Reigate County Court.