The pit tower at the former Harworth colliery was knocked finally down today in the early morning after yesterdays failed attempts on knocking down the building.

Built in 1989, just seven years before the pit was mothballed, the tower is seen by drivers using the nearby A1.

June Evans, chairwoman of Harworth and Bircotes Town Council, said it marked the “end of an era”. It’s become an icon for everyone, a beacon when travelling back to Harworth, but we do need to move on,” Mrs Evans said.Opened in 1921, Harworth supplied coal to the Trent Valley power stations, hitting a production peak in the 1980s.

About 1,600 homes could be built, with a new primary school, sports facilities, open spaces and bus station on the 150 acre (607,028 sq meters) site.

A piece of land near Asda in Scrooby Road has been set aside for a memorial garden, with a stone displaying the names of miners killed in pit accidents during its operational years.