Euro Scaffolding, based in Heathfield Way, Kings Heath, beat off competition from dozens of other companies around the country to help build London's equivalent of the 'Water Cube' in Beijing.

Employees of the Northampton firm will be travelling down to Stratford on Monday to start work on the multi-million pound building, which will have a seating capacity of 22,500, and will be the venue for the swimming and diving competitions.

Paul Rooney, contracts director, said: "I was over the moon when we got the call to say we had the contract. We worked really hard to get it as a lot of people were after it.

"It was a hard job to get accepted as there are lots of rules and regulations and they are very strict on who they let on site. There were people from all over the country trying to get the job, especially as the way work is going in the construction industry at the moment. Things are very tight so to get this job is brilliant."

The Aquatics Centre will be located in the south east corner of the Olympic Park and will be the 'gateway' to the Park during the Games.

It will include a 50m competition pool, a 25m competition diving pool and a 50m warm-up training pool. Water Polo will be held next to it in a temporary 5,000-seat venue with competition and warm-up pools.

Mr Rooney said the Northampton firm would be on site right up until completion of the Aquatics Centre and may be asked to get involved with the construction of other parts of the Olympic Park.

He said: "If it goes well it may lead to us helping to build the main arena. We have already had inquires about helping to build the Olympic village.