ODA says construction will begin ahead of schedule at the start of May

Work on the Olympic Stadium is to start three months early the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) has said today.

An ODA spokesperson confirmed that as work clearing the site had been completed earlier than expected; building work would be pushed forward to start in May.

"We have investigated the Olympic Stadium site, demolished tens of buildings and excavated 800,000 tonnes of soil," ODA chairman John Armitt said.

"Now that we have finished the work to dig the bowl, where the opening and closing ceremony and athletics will take place in 2012, we are firmly on track to start construction work ahead of schedule."

The 80,000-seater stadium will cost £496m to build.