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| Didcot power station: Power cut as cooling towers demolished | Didcot power station: Power cut as cooling towers demolished |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Thousands of households lost electricity moments after a disused power station's remaining cooling towers were demolished. | Thousands of households lost electricity moments after a disused power station's 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. |
| Moments later, witnesses said, a nearby electricity pole went up in flames. | Moments later, witnesses said, a nearby electricity pole went up in flames. |
| Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSE) initially denied the demolition was to blame, but said later the two were "probably linked". | Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSE) initially denied the demolition was to blame, but said later the two were "probably linked". |
| A spokesman said the firm was trying to establish the reason for the fault, which caused up to 49,000 homes to lose power until it was restored by 08:20. | A spokesman said the firm was trying to establish the reason for the fault, which caused up to 49,000 homes to lose power until it was restored by 08:20. |
| "An investigation is under way as to the cause of the incident and SSEN is working with all relevant authorities," he added. | "An investigation is under way as to the cause of the incident and SSEN is working with all relevant authorities," he added. |
| Crowds who had gathered early to watch the controlled blast said the pole - connected to an overhead power line - caught fire "within 10 seconds" of the detonation. | Crowds who had gathered early to watch the controlled blast said the pole - connected to an overhead power line - caught fire "within 10 seconds" of the detonation. |
| One witness said the blaze "started with a bit of smoke, then a huge bright blue light and lots of noise before turning bright orange". | One witness said the blaze "started with a bit of smoke, then a huge bright blue light and lots of noise before turning bright orange". |
| SSE said engineers were alerted to a fault in the Sutton Courtenay area, where the power station is, at 07:04. | SSE said engineers were alerted to a fault in the Sutton Courtenay area, where the power station is, at 07:04. |
| There were multiple reports of households suddenly losing electricity. | 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. | While those who went to watch the demolition said the explosion had appeared to affect electrical cables in the surrounding area. |
| An exclusion zone was set up around the site of the former coal-fired power station, which was turned off in 2013 after 43 years in service. | An exclusion zone was set up around the site of the former coal-fired power station, which was turned off in 2013 after 43 years in service. |
| Site owners RWE Power had warned onlookers not to attempt to view the demolition from close quarters. | Site owners RWE Power had warned onlookers not to attempt to view the demolition from close quarters. |
| The fall of the station's northern towers came after the three southern towers were demolished in 2014. | The fall of the station's northern towers came after the 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 and relevant local authorities. | RWE Power, which owns the site, said it had planned the demolition over several months with its contractor Brown and Mason and relevant local authorities. |
| Before the demolition, RWE project manager Tiernan Foley said: "For many people the demolition will mark a significant day for both Didcot and Oxfordshire. | 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 |