Construction work has started on a 400m (1,312ft) BMX track in Burgess Park, Southwark, South London.

Ground Control Ltd has been appointed as the contractor for the new £800,000 track which will open in summer 2013.

The track will be free to use and has been designed to cater for both novices and competition-standard riders. It will feature a starting hill, a variety of jumps and floodlighting.

The venue will be capable of hosting international races and will be one of the first in London to accommodate summer and winter national events.

Southwark Council has invested a total of £580,000 towards the track with British Cycling, London Marathon Trust and the Mayor's Play Sport Fund also contributing.

At 56 hectares, Burgess Park is one of London's largest parks and the BMX track is part of a comprehensive, £8m upgrade of the green space.