Work has now begun on Bangor's new £40m Olympic pool and - as previously reported - this comes after months of 'stop-start' progress.

Builders have gone on site at Valentine Playing Field to start work on what will be Northern Ireland's first 50 metre swimming pool.

Farrans Construction Limited is taking on the project which, it is estimated, will create 200 new jobs.

Completion is expected in August 2012 though – after the London Olympics have taken place.

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Funders North Down Borough Council had to reappoint a firm to build the complex after its first choice, a joint bid, collapsed earlier this year.

North Down Mayor John Montgomery told the local newspaper, the Bangor Spectator: "Council is delighted that the contract for the pool and leisure centre has now been awarded.

"This facility will be a tremendous local legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and deliver long-term economic and sporting benefits to the people of North Down and the wider Northern Ireland community.

"I would like to offer my congratulations to Farrans and we look forward to working with the company over the next two years as we see this very exciting project progress," he said, last week.

(BMcC/KMcA)