In pictures: Walthamstow Stadium's iconic neon sign lights up for the first time in eight years

What do David Beckham, Blur and The Queen have in common? They all have a vague connection to Walthamstow Stadium, of course! Before he was making big bucks as an international football star, David Beckham's first job was as a lowly glass collector at the stadium, while Blur's album cover for Parklife was shot there, and its famous neon sign was installed in 1951 in time to mark the coronation of The Queen in 1952. Okay, trivia time over.

Since the greyhound track closed down in 2008, the stadium has sadly fallen into disrepair. But local craftsman Andy Cook has made it his mission to restore the Grade-II listed sign to its former glory, and with the help of L&Q (the housing association marketing the homes being built on the site) it's had a £100,000 restoration and is now looking all shiny and new.

See some behind-the-scenes pictures of the newly restored sign:

Find more cool things to do in Walthamstow.

Or get your neon fix at Lights of Soho's new exhibition.