IT only took a few seconds to reduce a chunk of the region's industrial heritage to a pile of dust and rubble yesterday.

More than 2,000 tons of concrete and metal crumpled to the earth at Eastgate, County Durham, where a 1960s cement plant could be making way for a 21st Century tourist attraction.

A flash and a rumble signalled the end of three 25-metre silos, a preheater building and main dust filters at the Lafarge-owned site, which closed two years ago with the loss of 147 jobs.

With the rest of the site flattened by demolition contractor Brown and Mason over the past few months, now only the works' landmark 400ft chimney is left. It will be demolished later this year.

Yesterday's text-book operation by subcontractor Controlled Demolition saw the massive grey towers slip sideways, setting off a cloud of brown dust that drifted down the picturesque dale.

Explosives experts placed 1,350 charges two metres above ground to fell the empty buildings.

Onlookers had driven high into the Weardale hills to view the five-second show, which meant the closure of the road past the site for 30 minutes on safety grounds.

Former cement worker Brian Short, from Frosterley, looked down on the spectacle from a vantage point in the plant's old quarry.

He was in his 20s when he started at the works in 1970 and was kept on after the closure as part of a decommissioning team of five people.

He said: "I had a lump in my throat, I must admit. There was a big part of my life down there.

"I have been here since I was in my 20s and I will be 57 when I finally go at the end of the year.

"It was always a good job for a good company. I can't say I have any complaints."

Lafarge spokesman Alistair Gale said: "Everything went exactly according to plan. Our main objective was to ensure that it was done safely and we achieved that.

"The next major milestone in the programme will be the demolition of the works' chimney. The team are continuing to assess the most effective way of doing this."

Consultation will start in the dale next month regarding plans to create a futuristic eco-village that could be the focus of international attention.

With a combination of sustainable energy sources, including rare hot rocks, the centre would feature homes, holiday accommodation and business units with tourist attractions unique to Britain. Hot water drawn from deep underground would create warm water pools for bathing, heated fish tanks for exotic species and conditions for rare blooms in a plant nursery.

Businesses have expressed interest in the development, but some residents complain that it will take too long to get off the ground, leaving Weardale without new employment until at least 2007.