A North-East dale lost one of its last industrial landmarks yesterday when a 400ft chimney was reduced to a pile of rubble.

The chimney has stood at cement company Lafarge's Eastgate site, in Weardale, County Durham, since the plant opened 40 years ago.

Blowing it up was one of the final acts for a demolition team who have spent almost a year clearing the land following the works' closure two years ago.

Steeplejacks Churchills had already removed a 15 ft rim of bricks from the top of the concrete chimney ready for explosives experts Controlled Demolition to set their charges.

Lafarge set up an exclusion zone around the site and the road between Eastgate and Westgate was closed for the blast at 10am.

The Eastgate site is earmarked for a futuristic eco-village combining sustainable energy sources including hot rocks.

Weardale residents have been consulted on the plans and their comments are currently being assessed.