A MASSIVE explosion saw part of Northwich's industrial history flattened after the redundant Brunner Mond power station in Winnington was blown down'.

A huge crowd of spectators - including former workers and their families - gathered at the Anderton Boat Lift at 1pm yesterday, Tuesday, to see the 125ft building crash to the ground.

Former worker Jack Bell, 86, now lives in New Zealand, but he arranged a holiday in England to coincide with his former place of work being demolished.

Jack added: "I worked at the polythene plant during the Second World War and right up until I left to move abroad in 1959. I can even remember the tower being built. It is quite sad. It's bringing back some good memories of old friends."

Demolition contractors J Bryan (Victoria) Ltd used 52kg (114lbs) of nitro-glycerine to tear down the bunker and the two boilers.

The worries of some residents that the site still contained hazardous materials, such as asbestos, proved unfounded.

A spokesman for Brunner Mond said: "Specialist contractors removed all asbestos at an early stage in the process.

"All of the brickwork has already been taken down, so there is just the steel structure remaining. The site has been carefully tested ahead of the blow down and there are no contaminates remaining."