Work has officially begun on bringing AFC Wimbledon back to its "spiritual home."

The club first announced its ambitions to build a new stadium back in 2013 and today (March 16) started demolition work on the old Wimbledon greyhound site.

Mark Davis, chairman of the Dons Trust, said it had been a long wait for fans to see the team return to the borough.

"Supporters have not only waited patiently, but they have also actively played their part in helping this to happen, making representations to the borough about the importance of a new stadium and making their views known at London and national level," he said.

"I’m delighted that their patience and commitment is now being rewarded with tangible progress on the ground. We look forward to a new football stadium starting construction once the site is cleared and to AFC Wimbledon playing a proud role in the sporting and cultural life of the borough.”

Once the site is cleared, construction will begin on building a new stadium with an initial capacity of between 9,000 and 10,000, with permission to extend this to 20,000.

Construction work on the stadium is expected to start as soon as the site clearance is finished, possibly by late summer, with a 2019 completion date.

Chief Executive Erik Samuelson said it all felt like a dream

“As a community-owned club we are delighted to be returning to our spiritual home in Plough Lane," he said.

"In addition to bringing League football back to Wimbledon the new stadium will form a base from which to expand our award-winning community work.

“Ever since we were reformed in 2002 we’ve been nurturing a dream of returning to a stadium of our own, back in Wimbledon.

"Today is the start of turning that dream into reality. We are on our way.”

As well as the stadium, 604 new homes (30 per cent of which are said to be affordable) and a new fitness facility will be built.