GOING, GOING . . . Bulldozers have moved in to what is left of the former Pirelli works in West Quay Road and soon the site will be razed.

The demolition brings to an end Southampton's links with the Italian firm which stretch back to the beginning of the First World War.

At its height, the sprawling Pirelli works covered 35 acres and dominated Southampton employing more than 4,500 in the city.

Most of the huge plant disappeared under the wrecking ball nine years ago after the plant closed in 1990 - to be replaced by retail outlets such as Toys R Us and Furniture Village which employ hundreds rather than thousands.

The huge works were built in 1914 but were gradually run down after the company built two new factories in Eastleigh and Bishopstoke in the 1960s.

The Eastleigh site was itself closed last year with 350 jobs transferred to Italy. Housing is now being built on the former factory site.

The last remnants of Southamp-ton's works - which was built by the firm in 1981 to construct submarine cables - finally closed last year.

Demolition work on what remains of the cable works began in earnest last week. But the current owners of the site are still keeping tight-lipped about what is likely to be put up in its place. Last year, rumours surfaced that furniture giant Ikea were interested in building a giant superstore on the redundant site.

But city planning chiefs say no plans have been lodged by anyone yet - including the furniture giant.

The Daily Echo understands that the cleared site could be used - possibly for car parking - for the Southampton Boat Show.

But what exactly will be built on the valuable piece of inner city real estate remains a mystery.

The site is currently owned by Bournemouth-based company Chelstone. Part of the site, which was sold by Pirelli last year, is controlled by Morley Property Managers who also own and manage the giant WestQuay retail park.

Mark Kincaide from Chelstone said: "We will some time in the summer unveil our plans. It is a bit premature at the moment."

Ikea spokeswoman Yvonne Booth said: "Nothing is going on."

Plans to bring a branch of the popular chain to the city stalled last year over planning difficulties.

But at an enquiry into Southampton City Council's local plan last year, experts revealed that the former works in West Quay Road would be able to accommodate a multi-million-pound development by the fashionable store.

Ikea had planned to open a store on the Millbrook Trading Estate which would have created 500 jobs but they withdrew their application last year. The company has already confirmed it is looking at a number of sites in the city.

A spokesman for Southampton City Council said: "The city council has not yet received any detailed plans from the developer of the former Pirelli site in the city centre though it is expecting to receive these later this year.

"These may then be subject to a public consultation as part of the planning process. This is recognised as an important area of land, falling in the middle of the existing and highly successful WestQuay development.