E.ON has announced it will bring down the redundant Tinsley cooling towers this August Bank Holiday weekend.

The 250ft towers will be demolished in a controlled explosion in the early hours of Sunday 24 August.

Due to the need to close the M1 motorway, the timings were decided following extensive consultation with the Highways Agency, police and other local agencies to try and minimise disruption to locals and road users.

Plans for a viewing platform at Meadowhall and a text raffle to win the chance to start the demolition countdown will be announced shortly.

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Derek Parkin, Managing Director of Business Services at E.ON, said: "Our priority has always been to make sure this demolition is carried out safely and with as little disruption as possible, which is why we’ve opted for the early hours of the morning."

The M1 motorway will be closed between junctions 32 and 35 from midnight on Saturday evening and for most of Bank Holiday Sunday. The A631 Tinsley viaduct lower deck between the Tinsley and Meadowhall roundabouts will also be closed.

Arthur Ashburner, Divisional Director at the Highways Agency, said: "We have agreed that the best time to close the motorway to allow the demolition to take place will be in the early hours of Bank Holiday Sunday when traffic levels are at their lowest.

"Clearly-signed diversions will be in place along the M18 and M26 together with local diversion routes, in order to limit any delays to road-users, but we advise drivers to allow extra time for their journeys."

(JM/KMcA)