NEWPORT'S skyline changed forever yesterday, when three giant chimneys were blasted out of existence at Llanwern.

The coke oven stacks at the steelworks site were demolished to make way for a new development that should include housing, light industry and sports facilities.

Each tower was 150 feet tall, took two years each to build, and disappeared in seconds when more than 40 kilos of nitroglycerine explosive was detonated.

Two of the brick stacks were built in 1961, and the third, concrete chimney was finished in 1975.

For many the demolition will symbolise the passing of the steelmaking era at the Llanwern site last year, but it also marks the halfway point in clearing the site.

It was a day of mixed emotions for Bob Fradd, who used to work at the blast furnace and is now an engineering manager overseeing the clearance of the site.

Mr Fradd said: "In a way it's a bit sad that steelmaking has finished here, but really it is a new chapter. What's done is done and it is time to move on and create the space for the new development. This is the start of a great opportunity, and the sooner we sell the site to developers, the sooner we can put even more money into the new site."

The charges were detonated on schedule at 2.30pm by Nigel Llewellyn, 52, a former coke oven team leader who retires next month, shaking the ground and sending a cloud of dust across the 300 acres already cleared.

When the all-clear was sounded five minutes later, Mr Fradd said: "I love it when a plan comes together."