IT only took a few seconds to reduce a slice of the region's industrial heritage to a pile of dust and rubble yesterday.

More than 2,000 tons of concrete and metal crumpled into the earth at Eastgate, County Durham, where a 1960s cement plant could be making way for a 21st century tourist attraction.

A flash and a rumble signalled the end of three 25-metre high silos, a preheater building and main dust filters at the Lafarge owned site, which shut down two years ago costing 147 jobs.

With the rest of the site flattened by demolition contractors Brown and Mason over the past few months, now only the works' landmark 400ft chimney is left.

Yesterday's text-book operation by subcontractors Controlled Demolition saw the massive grey towers slip sideways, setting off a cloud of brown dust which drifted down the River Wear valley.

Explosives experts placed 1,350 charges two metres above ground to fell the giant empty buildings.

Onlookers had driven high into the Weardale hills to view the five-second show which closed the road past the site for 30 minutes.

Former cement worker Brian Short, from Frosterley, looked down on the spectacle from a vantage point up in the plant's old quarry.

He was in his 20s when he started at the works in 1970 and was kept on after the closure as part of a five-strong decommissioning team.

He said: "I had a lump in my throat, I must admit. There was a big part of my life down there.

"I have been here since I was in my 20s and I will be 57 when I finally go at the end of the year.

"It was always a good job for good company. I can't say I have any complaints."

Lafarge spokesman Alistair Gale said: "Everything went exactly according to plan. "Our main objective was to ensure that it was done safely and we achieved that.

"The next major milestone in the programme will be the demolition of the works' chimney. The team are continuing to assess the most effective way of doing this."

Consultation starts in Weardale next month over plans to create a futuristic eco-village which could be the focus of international attention.

With a unique combination of sustainable energy sources, including rarely found hot rocks, the centre would mix homes, holiday accommodation and business units with tourist attractions unique to Britain.

Hot water drawn from deep underground would create warm water pools for bathing, heated fish tanks for exotic species and conditions for rare blooms in a plant nursery.

Private businesses have expressed interest in the development but some residents complain that it will take too long to get off the ground, leaving Weardale without new employment until at least 2007.