A 50-tonne demolition machine, one of the largest in Europe, has torn through the 12-storey building that was formerly the University of East London.

The building, which has been derelict for a number of years, is one of the tallest in Olympic Delivery Authority’s demolition plan, and its destruction has symbolically marked the halfway stage in the demolition preparations for the Olympic games. However, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) believes the work is not going fast enough.

IOC boss, Jaques Rogge, has hit out at the pace of the construction work saying the progress in London "is doing OK" but must focus on delivering the Games on time.

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The ODA aims to clear and clean the majority of the 2.5 square kilometres Olympic Park by the time Beijing 2008 kicks off, a project which includes demolishing over 220 buildings and cleaning 1.3 million tonnes of contaminated soil. The Agency also plans to reuse or recycle over 90 per cent of the waste materials left over.

ODA Chief Executive, David Higgins, said: “The demolition of these long disused buildings which tower over the Olympic Park is a clear symbol of how the progress we are making on the Olympic Park will help to transform a neglected part of London for future generations.

“Clearing this area will free it up to become a gateway between world-class sporting facilities and vital Games-time and legacy accommodation in the north of the Park.”

The area will link the Olympic Village and VeloPark during the Games and in the future the site is planned to connect new venues, homes, schools and community facilities in the north of the Olympic Park.

Chair of the Organising Committee, Seb Coe, said: “This is another milestone in the transformation of the Olympic Park site. In the last year, much of the work has taken place underground on the powerlines. Now, you will see an increasing amount of work taking place at ground level, as remediation and demolition gather pace.”

(DW/SP)