Work starts on £55m Leeds Arena site

Work has started at the city centre site where the £55m Leeds Arena will be built, the city council has said.

Sewers and drains are being diverted and hoardings are going up at the Clay Pit Lane site. Construction work is scheduled to begin early next year.

The venue will hold more than 13,000 people and is expected to create up to 500 jobs in the city.

It is hoped it will bring an extra one million visitors to Leeds each year an an annual £25m to the city's economy.

The Leeds Arena is due to open in 2012.