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| Didcot power station: Power cut as cooling towers demolished | Didcot power station: Power cut as cooling towers demolished |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Thousands of households lost electricity moments after a disused power station's last remaining cooling towers were demolished. | |
| Didcot A's 375ft (114.3m) high towers were brought down using explosive charges at 07:00 BST. | Didcot A's 375ft (114.3m) high towers were brought down using explosive charges at 07:00 BST. |
| Minutes later, an electricity pylon nearby was seen on fire. Up to 49,000 homes are said to have lost power. | |
| Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) insisted the fault "wasn't linked to the demolition". | Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) insisted the fault "wasn't linked to the demolition". |
| A spokesman said engineers were alerted to a fault in the Sutton Courtenay area, where the power station is, at 07:04. | |
| He apologised to customers, and said repairs were expected to be completed by 08:00. | He apologised to customers, and said repairs were expected to be completed by 08:00. |
| There were multiple reports of households suddenly losing electricity. | |
| While those who went to watch the demolition said the explosion had appeared to affect electrical cables in the surrounding area. | |
| The coal-fired station was turned off in 2013 after 43 years in service. | The coal-fired station was turned off in 2013 after 43 years in service. |
| Crowds gathered early to watch the controlled blast as Oxfordshire's skyline changed forever. | Crowds gathered early to watch the controlled blast as Oxfordshire's skyline changed forever. |
| The station's northern towers were blown down after its three southern towers were demolished in 2014. | The station's northern towers were blown down after its three southern towers were demolished in 2014. |
| RWE Power, which owns the site, said it had planned the demolition over several months with its contractor Brown and Mason, liaising with the relevant local authorities. | RWE Power, which owns the site, said it had planned the demolition over several months with its contractor Brown and Mason, liaising with the relevant local authorities. |
| An exclusion zone was set up around the site of the former coal-fired power station to keep members of the public safe, with RWE warning people not to attempt to view the demolition from close quarters. | An exclusion zone was set up around the site of the former coal-fired power station to keep members of the public safe, with RWE warning people not to attempt to view the demolition from close quarters. |
| A temporary footpath closure was in place, though there were no road closures. | A temporary footpath closure was in place, though there were no road closures. |
| Before the demolition, RWE project manager Tiernan Foley said: "For many people the demolition will mark a significant day for both Didcot and Oxfordshire. | |
| "We would like to thank the local community for their support and all the people who have worked at the site." | "We would like to thank the local community for their support and all the people who have worked at the site." |
| The power station's gigantic, concrete towers in the heart of Midsomer Murders country have stood in stark contrast to their surroundings and have divided public opinion. | The power station's gigantic, concrete towers in the heart of Midsomer Murders country have stood in stark contrast to their surroundings and have divided public opinion. |
| In 2003, Country Life readers voted the landmark Britain's third worst eyesore, but others have found the structures to be a source of inspiration for poetry. | In 2003, Country Life readers voted the landmark Britain's third worst eyesore, but others have found the structures to be a source of inspiration for poetry. |
| Didcot A was commissioned in 1964 by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) before it was connected to the national grid in 1970. | Didcot A was commissioned in 1964 by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) before it was connected to the national grid in 1970. |
| The town's railway line and proximity to the Thames also meant the location was right for the tonnes of coal and gallons of water the power station would require. | The town's railway line and proximity to the Thames also meant the location was right for the tonnes of coal and gallons of water the power station would require. |
| The 2,000 megawatt (MW) station operated until 2013, when RWE Power move to decommission it when new EU reduced emissions rules were brought in. | The 2,000 megawatt (MW) station operated until 2013, when RWE Power move to decommission it when new EU reduced emissions rules were brought in. |
| Owners RWE Npower had planned to clear the site by the end of 2017, but its plans were delayed when the site's boiler house collapsed, killing four workers. | Owners RWE Npower had planned to clear the site by the end of 2017, but its plans were delayed when the site's boiler house collapsed, killing four workers. |
| Ken Cresswell, 57, John Shaw, 61, Michael Collings, 53, and Christopher Huxtable, 34, died in the major incident in February 2016. | Ken Cresswell, 57, John Shaw, 61, Michael Collings, 53, and Christopher Huxtable, 34, died in the major incident in February 2016. |
| It took more than six months for the four men's bodies to be recovered, prompting criticism from their families. | It took more than six months for the four men's bodies to be recovered, prompting criticism from their families. |
| The power station's 655ft (199.5m) chimney - one of the tallest structures in the UK - will be demolished in the autumn. | The power station's 655ft (199.5m) chimney - one of the tallest structures in the UK - will be demolished in the autumn. |
| Didcot Power Station timeline | Didcot Power Station timeline |
| 1964 - Building starts | 1964 - Building starts |
| 1970 - Didcot A begins commercial operation | 1970 - Didcot A begins commercial operation |
| 1994 - Construction starts on Didcot B, a gas fired station | 1994 - Construction starts on Didcot B, a gas fired station |
| 1997 - Didcot B begins commercial operation | 1997 - Didcot B begins commercial operation |
| 2003 - Voted Britain's third worst eyesore | 2003 - Voted Britain's third worst eyesore |
| 2009 - Protestors climb chimney and stay there for two days | 2009 - Protestors climb chimney and stay there for two days |
| March 2013 - Didcot A closed | March 2013 - Didcot A closed |
| July 2014 - Three of its cooling towers are demolished | July 2014 - Three of its cooling towers are demolished |
| February 2016 - A major incident is declared after the boiler house collapses, and the body of worker Michael Collings is found | February 2016 - A major incident is declared after the boiler house collapses, and the body of worker Michael Collings is found |
| July 2016 - The remaining section of the boiler house is brought down using explosives | July 2016 - The remaining section of the boiler house is brought down using explosives |
| September 2016 - The bodies of Ken Cresswell, John Shaw, and Christopher Huxtable are recovered | September 2016 - The bodies of Ken Cresswell, John Shaw, and Christopher Huxtable are recovered |
| December 2017 - An evidence file is passed to the Crown Prosecution Service by police | December 2017 - An evidence file is passed to the Crown Prosecution Service by police |
| January 2018 - Thames Valley Police reveals it is considering manslaughter and gross negligence charges | January 2018 - Thames Valley Police reveals it is considering manslaughter and gross negligence charges |