A team of urban explorers climbed a 700ft chimney packed with explosives before it was blown up in a controlled demolition.

The Littlebrook Power Station chimney in Dartford was demolished last Sunday morning, with a controlled explosion carried out by contractors Brown and Mason.

Earlier in the week on Wednesday a two man team from YouTube channel UrbeXUntold, climbed the doomed structure to take in the view from the top of what was the Thames' last remaining power station, for the last time.

They also evaded security guards a short while after the explosion to look at the blasted remains of the building.

Scott from the group, who doesn't want to be named fully, said it was saddening to see the chimney - which had been the second highest in the UK - brought down.

"Absolutely gutted it's down," he said. "We managed a successful climb on Wednesday night, it was full of explosives. Proud to say we were the last ever explorers to climb it and see the view.

"Went in for a look minutes after the explosion needless to say security turned up."

The team first climbed the structure in September, when they described how they had ran across rubble to avoid being spotted by security guards before squeezing through metal fencing at the base of the chimney and climbing 880 steps to the top.
They then spent time filming and taking pictures of the sunset before descending the site.

On that occasion the pair were at the the site for around two-and-a-half hours and described the climb - documented on YouTube - as "one of the most exhilarating things" they've ever done.

Tony Mack, from Longfield, who has campaigned for years to save the chimney had threatened to chain himself to it to stop the demolition, but said he had been told to expect heavy security on Saturday, so decided against it.

The company responsible for demolishing the chimney were approached for comment.

The climb back in September

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