Residents took to social media to share their excitement that work had started on a former hospital site in Denbigh last.

A photo of a digger on the former North Wales Hospital site was posted to Facebook group 'Town Talk...Denbigh news and views' last week.

However the Free Press has since discovered the machine was simply on the site to tidy overgrowth.

A Jones Bros Civil Engineering UK, the developers, spokesperson said: “The item of plant was on site at the former North Wales Hospital to assist with trimming and tidying up overgrowth.

“The activity is part of our on-going work to make the site safer. This follows on from erecting security fencing and appointing 24-hour security.”

The work comes just weeks after police and crime commissioner, Arfon Jones, met with representatives from Denbighshire County Council (DCC), who own the site, and Jones Bros at the former hospital.

Mr Jones said he was pleased to be able to meet with the Ruthin-based business and it was positive to see them already putting security measures in place.

Jones Bros said they had already installed CCTV cameras and erected fencing, keen to ensure the public remain safe by not trespassing on the site.

Earlier this year DCC took ownership of the site from Freemont (Denbigh) Ltd. and with Jones Bros now having been chosen as preferred developers they are now planning a predominantly housing led redevelopment on the site.

The site will remain in the ownership of DCC until the outcome of a planning application from Jones Bros is known.

The date for the planning application is yet to be confirmed.