THE roof is going on at Glasgow's new £125million music venue, as these photographs show.

Builders walked on the semi-completed roof of the Scottish Hydro Arena, which will play host to top music, sport and comedy events when it opens in September.

The Evening Times was given exclusive access to the 12,000-seater Anderston venue to capture the latest stage in the development.

As we previously reported, the 330-tonne central section of the roof had been lifted into place last May and in October construction workers held a 'topping out' ceremony to celebrate the last bolt being tightened up.

In November, the temporary supporting tower was successfully removed, leaving the huge domed roof self-supporting.

Now the first two ceiling layers are being put in and the house lights are being fitted.

A giant three-tiered steel rig is being constructed in the centre of the arena, from which all the lighting and the speakers will be hung when the Hydro opens.

Tom Doyle, Hydro project director, said: "The roof work has now kicked off in earnest and we are hoping to avoid the snow."

The venue, which is on the site of the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre, has secured sponsorship from Scottish Hydro, Heineken, Coca-Cola and ScotRail and is expected to host about 140 events each year.

Projections suggest the venue has the potential to generate an extra £131m in revenue for Glasgow.

With an audience of 1m visitors each year, The Hydro aims to be one of the top five indoor music arenas in the world, ranking alongside such famous venues such as New York's Madison Square Garden and London's O2 arena.