Campaigners blockade Sheffield hospital over demolition fears

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Campaigners fighting to save the Edwardian wing of an old hospital attempted to block entrances to the site earlier.

The group said it feared demolition work at the former Jessop Hospital in Sheffield was about to begin.

The University of Sheffield, which owns the site, was granted permission to demolish the building by the city council last year.

It said no demolition work had been scheduled.

Nick Roscoe, one of the campaigners, said they had taken the action after spotting a crane on site.

He said: "We had a tip-off that demolition was due to begin so took action to monitor the situation. We don't want to take any risks."

A spokesperson for the university said the crane was on site for a different project.

The Grade-II listed hospital wing's demolition is part of the university's plans for a new £81m engineering department.

Save Britain's Heritage has threatened legal action over the council's decision to allow the plans to go-ahead.

Sheffield City Council has previously insisted it would defend any action taken against it.