A cinema, bowling alley and shops are planned for the site

They have been called to around 35 arson incidents at the Old Castle Works site in the past four years.

Carmarthenshire Council has agreed a deal to buy the land with the aim of creating a leisure village there.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said it would free fire fighters for 'more meaningful work'.

This is one of the last great eyesores in Llanelli Mark James, Carmarthenshire Council

County commander Gethin Davies said: "It has been derelict for a number of years.

"In the last four years we have dealt with approximately 35 calls which does take firefighters away from more meaningful work.

"Because it is a large site it was not possible to completely secure it as it could be accessed from so many sides. Knocking it down takes away the problem for us."

During one incident two years ago the main coastal link road had to be closed as firefighters spent more than six hours fighting a blaze there.

Householders were told to stay indoors because of the smoke and keep their windows closed.

Carmarthenshire council has been in talks for some time to buy the land, close to the Millennium Coastal Park.

Chief executive Mark James said the authority wants to see a multi-screen cinema, bowling alley and retail development there.

"This is one of the last great eyesores in Llanelli and we have been working hard to secure the site in order that it can be cleared and developed," he said.