WORK began to tear down Slough’s old Ice Arena on Tuesday.

Machinery moved in at the site in Montem Lane to pull away the external cladding and strip the building back to the original structure.

The front entrance was also demolished – marking the start of the visible external work.

The demolition follows three months of surveys, the decommissioning of the ice and the internal furniture being stripped away.

The Ice Arena is undergoing a £7.7million refurbishment and extension.

The rink itself is expected to be completed by November this year – but the extension is not anticipated until early 2018.

The venue will include a new ice rink, changing rooms and toilets, a climbing wall, a gym and a café.

The work is being carried out by Slough Urban Renewal – the partnership between Slough Borough Council and property developer Morgan Sindall aimed at regenerating public services in the town.

Meanwhile, the temporary ice rink that will act as a stop-gap while Slough Ice Arena is closed, finally opened to the public on Saturday, after a series of delays. It is based in the car park of Montem Leisure Centre in Montem Lane.