THE bulldozers have moved in to destroy one of Blackburn's historical landmarks.

Revidge water tank was built by Victorian engineers in 1897 to improve water supplies and in more recent times has been used as a vantage point until it fell into disrepair about four years ago.

After lengthy negotiations since then with Blackburn with Darwen Council and the local civic society, owners North West Water finally decided the tank had to go. Demolition began yesterday.

It will mark the end of an era for Blackburn Civic Society members, who have been fighting to save the tank. The society wanted it to form part of the Corporation Park area of Blackburn, where it would be used to give people a panoramic view covering North Wales, the Lancashire coastline, Lake District and Yorkshire Dales.

Earlier in the year the council agreed that the water tank should be preserved but were not willing to allow the maintenance of it to become a burden on the taxpayer.

A spokesman from North West Water said: "We tried to reach a situation where everyone was satisfied but unfortunately that wasn't possible."

Mr Doug Chadwick, chairman of the Blackburn Civic Society, said: "This is a sad day for civic society and the people of Blackburn who desperately wanted to save the water tank.

"There is obviously nothing anyone can do now but a lot of people will very sorry to see this landmark go."