DEMOLITION experts arrived at Burnden Park today preparing to bulldoze the famous old stadium.

A team of specialists were at the ground assessing how best to knock down the century-old ground, fondly remembered by thousands of Super White fans.

Yesterday workmen made the Manchester Road site safe by carrying out checks and putting up fencing to keep the public out.

The bulldozers are expected to move in within days to start the lengthy job of dismantling terraces, stands and floodlights.

Today Wanderers officials, still reeling just days after firebugs started a huge blaze which destroyed Burnden's main Manchester Road stand, described the decision to demolish as an "end of an era".

Spokesman Alan Fullelove said: "It's a sad day. It's also sad that Burnden should end like this after the fire, but it's something which has to be done."

A team from Bury-based Briggs Demolition Ltd won the contract to carry out the work.

Today company spokesman Karen Nowell said she expected the job to be completed within four months.

She said: "Today the site will be inspected when we will decide what machines we use and how best to go about the job."

Wanderers decided to bulldoze their former home quickly after Burnden residents' complained about gipsies regularly invading the site creating litter and nuisance.

Wanderers are seeking permission for a superstore at the site, but the application hangs in the balance after Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott ordered a public inquiry into the scheme.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.