Time called on landmark Tesco tower

Workers today called time on a landmark clock tower which bit the dust during demolition of the Tesco supermarket at Burnt Tree.

The tower has stood atop the supermarket on the Sandwell/Dudley border since the store was built in 1992 and was seen by thousands of motorists travelling along the Birmingham Road and New Birmingham Road every day.

Bulldozers have been taking down the front of the store, focusing on the main entrance, cafe and cashpoint sections over the past week but until today the tower has remained standing amid the gathering rubble.

Shortly after 9am today the tower was brought to the ground.

The store is being demolished to pave the way for the construction of a new and larger Tesco store which is scheduled to open in the autumn. A temporary store has opened on the site in the meantime.

Manager of the Tesco store for 18 years Peter Vinnicombe said: "It is a shame in a way to see the tower go as it was a bit of a landmark but the new store is going to be fantastic. It will be three times the size of the old one and have facilities such as hairdressers."

The storerooms at the back of the site are to be taken down last because they contain refrigeration pipes which have to be cleared of gas. Once demolition is finished the site will be cleared for work on the new building.