The 'overwhelming' moment Hexham House is blown up in Newcastle's first explosive demolition since 2008

A tower block that has dominated the Walker skyline since 1968 has been demolished in a controlled explosion.

Hexham House was demolished at around 11.25 on Saturday morning as part of Newcastle City Council's plans to regenerate the area - with "at least 50" affordable homes to rent in the works. The demolition was carried out by Thompsons of Prudhoe and saw three local youngsters - Emily-Jane Costello, Aidan Sutherland and Frankie James - given the honour of pressing the button to detonate the explosives.

Each had won competitions. Emily-Jane 8, and Aidan, 10, had written poems about the Walker area while Frankie, 6, had created an astonishing model of Hexham House itself - complete with a rainbow.

READ MORE: Hexham House: Incredible drone footage of the explosive demolition in Newcastle

READ MORE: Residents told to avoid area after large sinkhole appears on housing estate

After the trio pressed the detonator, water jets sprayed upwards at Hexham House before it swiftly crumbled into rubble. The area will be cleared now - and nearby low-rise flats also removed.

Beforehand, Frankie and mum Samantha Graham told ChronicleLive how excited they were. Samantha said: "We had a cardboard box in the house and we just said do you want to enter a competition? She thought she would build the flats - topped with a rainbow. She's been so excited." After pressing the button, Frankie said: "I heard my foot shake a little bit."

Emily-Jane added: "My poem is about what it's like to live in and be part of Walker. We only found out [about pushing the button] on Monday and then we got lots of information and it's been very exciting."

Council leaders told ChronicleLive how the plan is then to bring forward new development which would include "at least 50" affordable homes. The council's new housing strategy is set to be delivered next summer - and plans for a "mixed use and modern" project will tie in with the aims of that strategy, they said.

Plans to tear down the empty Hexham House and its former neighbour, Titan House, have been in the works since their last tenants were being moved out in 2018 – at which point some of the few remaining residents were complaining of them being used as drug dens.

Councillor Paula Maines, Newcastle City Council's housing and regeneration chief, added "It was very exciting - I really hadn't expected to be so overwhelmed by it. And it came down so elegantly, it was really brilliant."

Coun Maines added: "Obviously we are going to clear the area and then this will really become a new area - we'll have new, eco-friendly housing that is accessible. We need to be making provision for everyone.

"People can like flats, but we've found they really like having their own front door and a bit of garden too. It'll be amazing to have brand new houses in the area and to give people here a sense of pride. It shows how we are investing in the area and everyone deserves real quality houses and a place they can call home."

Vicky McDermott, the city council's director of housing and communities, added: "What today is is the opportunity to build something really great and modern that works for the community. Our housing strategy is due in the summer but what we're looking at here is affordable housing - at least 50 units - and it's really important to look at mixed use and mixed tenure too."

Ahead of the demolition, Nick Shilling, managing director at Thompsons of Prudhoe said “We are thrilled to be a part of this significant project with Newcastle City Council.

"By carefully dismantling this outdated structure, we’re creating a blank canvas for new developments that will better serve the community. We’re proud to bring our decades of experience to bear on this project, ensuring it’s carried out with the utmost attention to safety, efficiency, and environmental considerations."