The expansion of Elstree Studios reached a major milestone last week as work was completed on the outer structures of the two new soundstages.

Contractors finished work on the roof and walls of the two £15.6 million stages, which have been named The Platinum Stages following a competition.

The stages, which together are around half the size of a football pitch, are designed to boost activity at Elstree Studios which has had to turn away business in the past due to a lack of space.

It is being developed on the site of the former Big Brother House and Hertsmere Borough Council, which owns the studios, hopes the project will be complete this spring.

Among those in attendance at the latest milestone in Borehamwood were council leader and chairman of the studios, Cllr Morris Bright, the mayor of Hertsmere Cllr Anne Swerling, and Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden.

Other key officers from the council also joined along with the acting managing director of Elstree Studios, Chris Denmead.

Cllr Bright said: "We're fast moving towards the completion of this exciting and inspirational project - and I'm pleased to say that thanks to the efforts of all our partners, we're on target to reach the deadline of a spring opening.

"The new Platinum Stages represent not just a major investment for the studios, they represent a token of faith in our borough and the UK's film and television production industry, as a whole.

"Coupled with the creation of the multi-million pound Sky Studios Elstree down the road, this project reinforces Hertsmere’s status as the number-one home for film and TV production.

"It means that Hertsmere well and truly deserves to be known as 'British Hollywood', something we should all feel proud about."

The council says the stages will create hundreds of new jobs and provide apprenticeship opportunities.

The expansion by contractor R G Carter has been funded by the council along with a £6 million Getting Building Fund investment from the government via the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

The council says rental income from the stages will be used to fund local services, though £100,000 has been earmarked for investment into creative industries, including local media and creative enterprise and initiatives.