Demolition Derby underway

Demolition work at Derby's Racecourse Ground has begun ahead of an extensive redevelopment of the venue which includes turning the square through 90 degrees to avoid issues with sunlight which have dogged day-night matches in recent seasons.

"We aim to make the County Ground as welcoming, hospitable and comfortable as possible," Derbyshire's chief executive Keith Loring told the club website. "We want to show our members that we mean business and that we are determined to take this club forward.

"The demolition of these buildings not only makes economic sense because the cost of maintaining them and keeping them safe would have been a constant drain on the club's finances. It will also allow us to make a better assessment of the ground's footprint as we continue to investigate ways of improving the facilities for our customers at the County Ground."

Among the buildings to go are the old jockey changing rooms, the last reminder of the days when then venue was a racecourse. Until 1982, they were still used by cricketers to change.