Tiles with locomotive designs that lined the walls of a town centre underpass have been turned to rubble.

The images covered the sides of the pedestrian subway under Fleming Way at the end of the Parade for years - but they were deemed to be of no historical value.

Some of the mosaics had been covered in graffiti by the time the underpass closed earlier this month, but it was not yet known whether the pieces could be preserved in some way.

As the demolition began on August 14, as part of work to lower Fleming Way and add an above-ground traffic light-controlled pedestrian crossing, the underpass' walls came down completely.

Swindon Advertiser: Tiles on the inside of Fleming Way underpassTiles on the inside of Fleming Way underpass (Image: Newsquest)

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: “At the outset of this major project to upgrade Fleming Way and the surrounding public realm, we consulted Swindon Civic Voice and the Mechanics Institute Trust to examine the tiles in the underpass.

“This determined that there is no historical value in preserving the tiles.

"The drawings were drawn onto the tiles in marker pen and depict engines that were used to test railway lines, not engines made in Swindon.

“As a result, we will not be keeping the tiles and they will be demolished as part of the work.”

Swindon Advertiser: Fleming Way underpass tiles featuring locomotive designs Fleming Way underpass tiles featuring locomotive designs (Image: Newsquest)