Demolition work has begun on the former Meadowbank Stadium in Edinburgh – acting as the starting gun for a project to build a new £47m sports centre in the city.

The historic venue, which hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1970, will be rebuilt with extensive provision for both elite and grassroots sport – forming an integral part of Scotland’s sports performance system.

Facilities will include a dedicated indoor athletics area, a large health club, martial arts studio, boxing gym and sports halls for badminton and gymnastics, as well as a café

An outdoor track stadium, 3G football pitch and outdoor throws area will also be included.

Edinburgh councillors have selected Graham Construction to do the construction work, with opening expected in 2020.

"This is another major milestone in our project to build a brand new Meadowbank – a venue that will become one of the country’s top community sports centres when it opens in 2020," said councillor Amy McNeese-Mechan, deputy culture and communities convener for the City of Edinburgh Council.

"The huge physical, mental and social benefits this project will bring to generations of local people simply can’t be overestimated."

Due to open in 2020, the facility will be operated by Edinburgh Leisure.