Children trigger controlled demolition of tower block

A tower block was demolished in a controlled explosion by three children who had won a competition. Hexham House, located in Walker, Newcastle, collapsed around 11:30 GMT on Saturday, forming part of a wider regeneration project. The young winners activated the button to trigger the explosives, clearing the site to make way for new residential properties. This marked Newcastle’s first explosive demolition in 16 years, experiencing a 20-minute delay as the last occupants departed the structure. Newcastle City Council commissioned Thompsons of Prudhoe (Thompsons) to execute the demolition. Paul Tirbitt, the Project Manager, mentioned an initial “little issue” because “some residents who didn’t want to leave their properties.” He further stated, “People’s safety is our number one priority.” Three local primary school pupils emerged victorious in contests, earning them the opportunity to be the team responsible for pressing the demolition button. Six-year-old Frankie secured her win by constructing a cardboard replica of the tower adorned with rainbows. Emily-Jane, aged nine, and Aidan, aged 10, composed poems detailing life in Walker. Following the event, the council awarded them certificates and a cake decorated with an image of the building. The countdown generated the anticipated excitement for Tyneside’s first controlled explosion in over ten years. Throughout the day, members of the public were heard reiterating: “This is the biggest thing to happen in Walker in years.” Upon reaching zero, three local Primary School children activated the button. For two of them, this action was poised to significantly alter the vista from their own bedroom windows. An unexpectedly lengthy pause followed. Due to the sequential design of the explosions, the “bang” was not a deafening clap; instead, the shock wave that arrived moments later was felt deeply in chests. A dust cloud rapidly enveloped the structure. However, within a few minutes, the air cleared, revealing a flat-topped pile of rubble and concrete shards, approximately 15m (50ft) in height, occupying the former site. For updates, follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our approach to external linking is available.