15 July 2012 Last updated at 07:50 ET

Five cooling towers are demolished in High Marnham

Former staff from the site in High Marnham, Nottinghamshire, were invited to watch the demolition

Five cooling towers at a former Nottinghamshire power station have been demolished in a controlled explosion.

Power company E.ON said they were brought down on Sunday morning after standing for more than 50 years at High Marnham in Retford.

It said "extensive clear-up work" would continue on the site for many months.

Spokesman Neil Riley said there were no current plans for development at the site and the towers had been removed because they could have become unsafe.

"In 2010 we announced we would not be proceeding with our plans for the development of the High Marnham site for a new gas-fired power station, as a result in the reduction of demand for electricity," he said.

Mr Riley added that they believed "the site represents an excellent opportunity for future generations."

The power station was closed in 2003.