Roads surrounding the towers were shut around 15 minutes before the giant structures came crashing to the ground but re-opened shortly after the dust had cleared.

An exclusion zone of several hundred metres was also lifted and access to the River Stour and public footpath EE42 restored.

Downfast Demolition Services, a Ramsgate-based firm, carried out the operation and began preparations at 4am.

Several 'sacrifical' cameras were installed to record the demolition right up until they were destroyed by the blast.

KentOnline will have a special report looking back at the history of the site tomorrow.

Next week's East Kent Mercury will carry Going Going Gone, a 12-page souvenir pullout to mark the historic demolition, and there will be extensive coverage in the Thanet Extra and on kmfm News.