WORK is to start on a striking £70m building which will rival the world's most beautiful arts venues.

The Tyneside skyline is set to change forever as the spectacular roof and glass concourse of The Sage Gateshead is built at Gateshead Quays.

The £70m project, funded by the largest Arts Lottery grant ever given outside of London, hopes to give the North-East a rival to venues such as Sydney Opera House, London's Royal Albert Hall and Milan's La Scala opera house.

The building, designed by Norman Foster, will house a 1,650-seat performance hall, the Northern Rock Foundation Hall for rehearsal and performance, as well as education information resource centres.