New development countdown begins

The clock will tick down the seconds until work starts

The official countdown to the start of a major development project in Nottingham has begun.

City officials unveiled a large clock on the London Road roundabout, which will tick down the seconds until work starts on the £900m Eastside project.

The development will centre on the 34 acres dubbed "The Island", formerly known as Boots Island.

The site houses the BBC and East Midlands Development Agency buildings, with a large amount of vacant land.

A major part of the plan is to create a canal basin around a park the size of the Old Market Square.

Offices, apartments, bars and restaurants will also be built as part of the scheme.

Future phases of the plan would stretch to the old NCT bus depot and former Sneinton market.

Backing the project is a consortium called Eastside and City Development.

Since Boots left The Island site and moved its warehouses to Beeston, The Island has been largely vacant, other than the BBC and Emda buildings which were built a few years ago.

Officials say the scheme could take 15 years to complete.