THE demolition of Blackburn’s landmark Thwaites tower has been delayed.

Work to take down the nine-storey aluminium-clad structure, which has dominated the town’s skyline since the 1960s, was due start this week.

But specialist contractor PP O’Connor, who have been doing the preparation work for the demolition, have hit a few snags.

Now they plan to begin the process of bringing down the tower brick-by-brick, from the top, late next week.

A Thwaites brewery spokeswoman said: “The contractors have been doing the preparation work and decided they need a slight delay before the demolition work starts to ensure it can be done safely.

“It will be brought down brick by brick from the top with the debris coming inside the tower so the bricks can be saved to level the Penny Street site for future development. Demolition will take several weeks.”

The brewery moved to Sykes Holt in Mellor Brook in August 2018 but demolition of the tower was delayed after a pair of peregrine falcons nested and hatched two chicks.