Industrial landmark blown up with 385lbs of explosives - with blast heard 23 miles away

One of Britain’s industrial landmarks was demolished on Wednesday...thanks to 385lbs of explosives.

A 250-yard exclusion zone was in place for the levelling of the Redcar blast furnace, the casting houses, the dust catcher and the conveyors.

Air horns sounded shortly before the 365-foot structure fell in a matter of seconds.

The blast furnace dates back to the late 1970s and once produced 3.6 million tonnes of iron a year.

The former steelworks site is being cleared to create the Teesworks industrial zone. The four enormous gas stoves which heated the furnace are set to be demolished separately in the next month.

The explosion was heard up to 23 miles away.

A 250-yard exclusion zone was in place for the levelling of the Redcar blast furnace (PA)

The blast furnace stands 365ft tall - the height of St Paul’s Cathedral - and was the second largest of its kind in Europe.

Once operated by British Steel and Corus, the furnace was shut down in 2015 with the collapse of SSI UK.

The demolition came after attempts by campaigners to save the structure failed.

It dominated the Teesside skyline for over four decades (PA)

Protestors argued that the facility should be retained on the Teesworks site due to its industrial heritage. Initial plans for the steelworks suggested the furnace could be developed into a tourist attraction but this was ultimately rejected.

Andy McDonald, Labour MP for Middlesbrough, said: “The demolition of the Redcar blast furnace really is the end of an era, changing the landscape of Teesside forever.

"This distinct structure has been a much-loved fixture for decades and its demolition marks the end of the steel-making chapter here on Teesside.

Locals and children play on the surf at high tide on Redcar beach in the shadow of the Corus Steelworks in 2008 (Getty Images)

"Steel making has been a huge part of our story and the very reason we grew in population – it is in our blood.”

Redcar Conservative MP Jacob Young added: “I always said today would be a day of mixed emotions.

"But it is precisely because the blast furnace stood for so long as a symbol of our historic economic strength that it should make way for a new era of progress.

“And it’s that progress that we need to concentrate on now. “

Teesworks officials say the scheme aims to be up and running within the next five years and could create 5,500 direct jobs and add £450 million to the economy each year.