End of era for Wembley

Work on Wembley's twin towers has got underway

Work on demolishing Wembley's twin towers has started.

Demolition work is finally under way on the 80-year-old landmark that has become synonymous with English football.

Minor work to remove the towers actually began in December, but the main work will take place over the next week ahead of the building of a new national stadium.

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A £757m project is already under way to redevelop the entire site, with a 133-metre high arch, which will be visible across London, replacing the historic towers.

The new stadium - due to open in early 2006 - will seat 90,000 people and will have a state-of-the-art sliding roof designed to aid pitch conditions.

But the white structures which have stood for 80 years will now be reduced to rubble.

Former England captain Ray Clemence and architect Lord Foster attended a ceremony to mark the end of the famous twin towers. "There was something unique about the stadium itself," said Clemence.

"As an England coach, I know how exciting it is for the team to know that in a few years' time, they will be playing here again."

The tops of the towers will be kept in storage until the new stadium is completed and will eventually feature in a Wembley Hall of Fame museum at the new ground.

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With BBC London's Wembley webcam