Mural shows up building's demise

The council has rejected several plans for the site

Two artists have painted a mural on the front of a neglected building in Dorset depicting the derelict state it will be in if nothing is done to save it.

Local artists Antonia Phillips and Nina Camplain wanted to highlight the deterioration of Swanage's Pier Head.

The mural appears to show cracks, crumbling stonework and a large hole in the side of the building.

There have been numerous attempts to develop the property over the years but none of the plans have been approved.

Mess hall

Ms Camplain said: "The building has been crying out for something really because it's been left to run down.

"We saw all the peeling bits on the front and we thought we'd carry that through and make it look if it was left to run down a few more years."

The building was built by troops stationed in Swanage at the end of the World War II as a temporary mess hall.

It was later used as watersports centre, a café and a bingo hall.