Construction work has began on Tottenham Hotspur's brand new 56,000-seater stadium on White Hart Lane.

Spurs have been planning on moving next door to their existing home since 2008 and finally the shovel is being put into the ground as development begins.

Contractors moved in and began digging the boundaries for the new West Stand, while permanent gates for the site have now been fitted at Paxton Road East.

The club intends to be playing full-time Premier League football in the ground by the start of the 2018/19 season.

The project is expected to cost in the region of £400million.

New proposed Tottenham stadium
New proposed Tottenham stadium

Once built, the stadium could also double-up as the home for a London-based NFL franchise, after plans to add a basement underneath the new ground were approved back in June.

An NFL team consists of 53 players and would be unable to fit in a standard football dressing room - and the additional space could free up the room needed.

It is also believed that ground floor of the stadium will also provide additional press facilities.

The basement would then play host to an underground car park, granted after a meeting of the London Borough of the Haringey Planning Sub-Committee.