ANGRY residents will renew demands for action to sort out an eyesore building on the third anniversary of it being gutted by fire.

A blaze tore through 20 Market Street, in Harwich, on April 13, 2012, destroying the inside and leaving residents concerned about the safety of the site.

Despite calls for the building to be tidied up, a year after the fire the flats were still untouched.

Harwich Residents’ Association chairman Ken Hewitt said: “Obviously, it is frustrating. The bottom line is Tendring Council keep telling the world Harwich is the jewel in their crown and what a wonderful town it is.”

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communications manager, said: “Every effort has been made to work with the owner to see this location redeveloped and we are now very close to plans being submitted to our planning department.

“We understand it will be a residential development for flats on the same footprint as the previous building. We expect the plans will be with the council in a matter of days.”