Ciaran Dallat, from nearby Bella Jo Interiors, said it was “quite shocking” to see the rubble on Thursday morning.

Dallat said it was “sad to see a historic building go”, but added that it had “really become an eye-sore”.

Speaking on Thursday, Sinn Féin councillor Cara McShane believes there may be questions over what had been agreed regarding the demolition work and what has been carried out.

“There had been an understanding that there would be significant demolition of this building behind us, but what we can see this morning is that it has been entirely demolished, and that is of great sadness to many in the community.”

Alliance MLA Sian Mulholland said it was “heartbreaking to see an iconic piece of Ballycastle’s built heritage reduced to a pile of rubble”.

“My party colleagues have been liaising with council officers to assess what has happened”.