DEMOLITION of the hated IMAX building is behind schedule and will continue beyond Easter, Bournemouth council has admitted.

Work will now be going on during the school holiday when thousands of visitors are expected in the resort.

Project manager Sarah May originally said the structure would be flattened by the end of March but there is now a revised schedule.

She stressed plans for a new outdoor event space to be open in time for the summer are not affected.

“Completion of the deconstruction phase on the site may run in to the beginning of April” she told the Daily Echo.

“The contractors are carrying out the work as carefully as possible due to the size and restriction of the site and this is best achieved through a slow, methodical process.

See all our pictures of the demolition at bournemouthecho.co.uk/imax

“However, we continue to be on track in terms of creating the outdoor event space and the opening concert.”

Members of the public are invited to enter a ballot for tickets to two Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra concerts due to be held on the site on June 29.

Matteo Arena, manager at the Hot Rocks restaurant, said they had spent “ a really long time” waiting for the Imax to be demolished and said it was disappointing that it won't be knocked down before Easter.

Trade at the Harry Ramsden's fish and chip restaurant has been affected during the demolition as access has been blocked at times from the Bath Road car park, meaning customers have to walk up from the promenade.

But Phillipa Baker, assistant manager at the fish and chip restaurant, said Interserve have kept her informed and said the extension is “a necessary evil”.

She said: “With it becoming an open entertainments venue we are hoping to get a bit of business from that. Interserve have worked with us as much as possible.”