Towers razed in overnight blasts

Crowds came out overnight to see the Glasgow flats come down/Pic: Tom Finnie

Five tower blocks have been razed to the ground in a series of dramatic overnight demolitions.

Two 19-storey flats in Glasgow's Sighthill were brought down at 0230 BST as part of a regeneration programme.

About 65kg of explosives were used to demolish the towers on Fountainwell Place in just 10 seconds.

In Millarston, Paisley, three high rise flats were reduced to 3,800 tonnes of rubble by a controlled explosion at 0600 BST on Sunday morning.

The Glasgow flats, at Fountainwell Place, were built in 1967 but have been unoccupied since December 2007.

The demolition decision was taken by Glasgow Housing Association (GHA).

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Brian McGuire filmed the demolition of the Millarston tower blocks

It marks the start of a programme of demolition and building taking place over the next 15-20 years.

Jim Sneddon, of GHA, said: "Whilst GHA is still working with our partners on how best to deliver the full regeneration plans for the area, today's demolition is a clear sign that we are committed to playing our part in changing the face of Glasgow and delivering social housing which is fit for the 21st Century."

The 15-storey Millarston Court, West Court and Woodneuk Court tower blocks in Paisley were identified for demolition under the Renfrewshire Council's regeneration strategy for the area.

The three blocks were built in the early 1970s.

The demolition saw 218 nearby homes being evacuated as a safety precaution designed to create an exclusion zone around the site.