An historic West Bromwich pub is set to be demolished to make way for a new £13 million swimming pool in the town.

Bulldozers will soon knock down the Prince Albert pub, which dates back to the 1800s, as work gets underway on the site of the long-awaited scheme.

The news emerged as it was announced today that building work will start on the site this spring.

The pool will be built on land at the junction of Moor Street and Bromford Lane. Sandwell Council bought the derelict Prince Albert pub on the plot in December and plans to demolish it and start other site works while progressing legal, financial and planning matters.

It is believed the pub had been closed for months before it was bought.

Peter Hill, one of the founder members of the The Black Country Ale Tairsters, said it was another sad day for pubs in the region.

Mr Hill of Stour Street, West Bromwich said: “That is the third pub down that road to go. There was the Royal Oak, the White Swan and the Prince Albert all are closed and gone.

“It’s just such a shame because the Prince Albert was such a lovely pub. It had a lovely beer garden, I used to go down there with my kids when it was sunny and sit outside.”