EARTH removers have moved on to Kent's St Lawrence cricket ground in Canterbury, but it will still be months before work starts in earnest on the club's £10million redevelopment plan.

The excavators arrived to dig 14 trenches and help complete the archaeological investigation of the former St Lawrence leper hospital which occupied the north area of the 16-acre site from 1137 through to the 16th century.

Archaeologists will spend the next two to three weeks inspecting trenches near the members' turnstiles and war memorial.

Kent's chief executive Paul Millman said: "A lot of preliminary work has already taken place, things like marking out where all the utilities will be coming in, but I don't see the real work starting on the redevelopment until early April."

Mr Millman also confirmed that Ben Moorhead, the solicitor and club member from Wye, has decided not to pursue his legal challenge over the validity of Kent's special general meeting in 2007 that allowed the club to sell two areas of the ground for housing.

Mr Moorhead said: "I remain concerned about the effects, both visually and environmentally, of the scheme on what I consider to be a heritage site and I would like to see a tree planting programme in place which will minimise any adverse impact on St Lawrence."