Construction sights: secrets behind the hoardings surrounding London's major building projects

They are London’s secret building sites but now a stunning set of pictures lays bare what is going on behind the hoardings around major construction projects.

Photographers Jason Hawkes and Andy Spain spent several years shooting across London as buildings were knocked down to reveal hitherto unseen views. Among the works is a picture of the Gherkin taken from the construction site in Bishopsgate, which is being turned into a 40-storey tower block.

Other photos include St Paul’s Cathedral as seen from the building site around One New Change in the heart of the City and the construction of the Rolls Building of the High Court in the Strand.

He said: “When a building is knocked down it reveals a view for a short period of time before the next building goes up to obscure it again.”

The exhibition Love London, organised by Wordsearch, runs until tomorrow at the Kohn Pederson Fox Gallery in Covent Garden.