Countdown clock reaches its goal

The countdown will finish with a firework finale

The countdown to the start of a major development project in Nottingham is almost over.

A giant clock unveiled on the London Road roundabout in January has been ticking down the seconds until work starts on the £900m Eastside project.

The countdown on the clock will stop at 1800 GMT on Wednesday 8 February with a firework finale.

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.

Future phases

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 Nottingham City Transport (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, it 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.