HUDDERSFIELD'S most famous landmark opened its doors to visitors at the weekend.

Dozens of people jumped at the chance to catch a birds-eye view of the town by climbing to the top of Castle Hill's Jubilee tower.

The opening of the historic Victoria Tower - built in 1897 for Queen Victoria's jubilee - marked the start of the summer season.

The tower will now open its doors to visitors every weekend and bank holiday from 12.30pm to 4.30pm until September 11.

Families enjoyed the open space and flew their kites in the sunshine, undeterred by the noisy demolition of the Castle Hill Hotel.

The controversial building next to the tower was halted more than a year ago after Kirklees Council planning officers discovered the hotel was being built too big and too high.

Developers The Thandi Partnership must now demolish the site by June 8 or face prosecution.

But with the clock ticking work to tear down the remaining steel structure picked up pace this weekend.

And with the site almost cleared, thoughts turned to the future .

Visitors this weekend called for the return of a good old-fashioned Yorkshire pub on the site.

Susan Briggs, 27, of Bradley, said: "I have never been up here before but I think it should definitely have stayed as a pub serving real-ale and proper Yorkshire food."

Jim Fish, 58, of Hyde, Cheshire, said: "We come over here quite a lot and we liked it when it was a family pub.

"I don't think Huddersfield makes enough of Castle Hill though.

"Getting here is not easy. There needs to be more signs."

But Honley man Jason Battye, 25, did not think a pub was the answer.

He said: "There should be something there but a pub was there before and no-one ever used it.

"It would be a good spot for a nice restaurant."