Demolition of football terrace begins

The Blackfriars End has been closed for a decade

Demolition work has started on the Blackfriars End at Hereford FC's Edgar Street stadium.

The terraced stand, which used to be the away end, has not been used in more than a decade after being closed due to safety concerns.

Herefordshire Council has a plan to redevelop the venue, building a new stand which incorporates student accommodation.

Club chairman Chris Ammonds said earlier this year that while it was a beautiful stadium, "it comes with its issues and its challenges because of its age".

The local authority leases the stadium - which has been in use since 1924 - to the club.

Hereford FC's general manager Jamie Griffiths said the Blackfriars End was a "crumbling old stand" and added: "Probably the shops over the road are quite happy that something's happening to try and tidy it up."

The redevelopment was still a "long time off", he said, but it was "great that the demolition's started".

Hereford have played at Edgar Street since 1924

Hereford signed a new lease with the council in April, extending their deal until 2070. The authority said it was looking forward to continuing the partnership.

It said the planned development would support the growing number of higher education students at Hereford College of Arts, NMITE, and Wye Valley NHS Trust.