IT went down with a bang in Leyland at the weekend as part of one of the town's oldest factories was razed to the ground.

After almost 150 years since it was first built the mighty chimney at the Leyland and Birmingham Rubber Company, Golden Hill Lane, was reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds on Saturday.

South Ribble's deputy mayor, councillor Jeff Knowles, pushed the detonator lever and the chimney was gone.

The factory, which once had more than 2,000 workers under its roof, will slowly be demolished in the forthcoming weeks.

But the day brought a tear to the eye of one former employee.

Colin Kearsley, 63, of Balshaw Crescent, Leyland, worked at the rubber factory for 43 years until he retired in 1997 following a motorbike accident.

It was a family affair for Colin, whose late father Harry, also worked at the factory alongside Colin's late brother Brian, who was hit by a car in 1995.

"I felt a bit sad. It has been a big part of my life and it's a big part of Leyland. I stood there and watched as they brought the chimney down. I felt tears filling my eyes," said Colin.

A former pupil at Wellfield High School, Yewlands Drive, Colin left full-time education aged 15.

Like many Leylanders of his age, he finished school on the Friday and was working at L&B on the Monday.

Colin said: "At first I used to sweep up and make brews. They made everything there then, Wellington boots, hot water bottles and tyres.

"When I was 18 I was allowed to work shifts and I started doing a lot of nights, where I would be responsible for operating different machines."

In its day L&B produced rubber products such as inflatables, shock absorbing insoles, squash balls and hoses, on the 35-acre site. It closed for good earlier this year.

The site has been sold to property developers Harrow Estates which has plans to build several hundred new homes on the land.

The demolition was carried out by Bradford-based Controlled Demolition Group.