A £2 million programme of demolition and infrastructure work is under way at the site of a former brewery devastated by fire earlier this year.

Homes England - formerly the Homes & Communities Agency - is currently working on the Old Brewery, which was previously owned by Hall and Woodhouse, in Blandford.

A large housing development is due to be built on the land.

Demolition was due to begin on February 26 and take place over the course of 27 weeks.

However, in March, a huge blaze gutted a building on the land.

The main Hall and Woodhouse site was not involved in the fire, which began accidentally as contractors carried out preparation works ahead of the works.

Despite the blaze, work later resumed and some 180 new homes will eventually be built on the land. The first will be completed in 2020, with building work set to begin next summer.

Homes England bought the site in January.

Councillor Graham Carr-Jones, leader and housing portfolio holder for North Dorset District Council, said the development is a "landmark" for Blandford.

"Good-quality housing of all tenures is greatly needed in Blandford and North Dorset," he said.

“I welcome the progress made so far and look forward to seeing the first construction workers arrive to begin work on the new homes.”

The Old Brewery, built in Victorian times, had been empty for some 12 years.

Property damaged in the fire has been demolished.

Bruce Voss, senior development manager for Homes England, said: “We are working closely with our neighbours the Hall and Woodhouse brewery to design a scheme which will complement their investment in the adjoining brewery visitor centre and leisure facilities.”