WORK to remove fire damaged material to help gain more access to Glasgow School of Art will begin next week.

A statement from the Art School, which was ravaged by fire for a second time in June last year, said the fire service had requested the work, which will see tons of materials removed from the full length of the central corridor of the Mackintosh building.

It is scheduled to take eight weeks and so should be completed by the beginning of December.

The statement said the work will involve 'extensive use' of a crane to lift material out of the building which will be at the corner of Renfrew Street and Scott Street. There will be no changes to the extent of the building site during the works, but there will be more movement of vehicles entering and exiting it.

Work will take place during the week from 8am to 4.30pm, and 3.30pm on Fridays.

Liz Davidson, project manager, said: "We have been asked by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to facilitate access to a further area of the building.

“This will require a very substantial amount of material to be removed in what will be a particularly complex operation. Weather permitting, we anticipate that this work will be completed before Christmas.”

“A crane will be used to lift material out of the Mackintosh Building on to Renfrew Street where it will be sifted to ensure any important archaeological material is retained.

“By doing this work on Renfrew Street it will mean that the interior work can be done as quickly as possible getting the earliest access for the fire service to this further area, and minimising disruption.”

Members of the GSA Mackintosh team and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be on site throughout the work.