RESIDENTS will have to rise early to see the long-awaited demolition of an Oxfordshire landmark.

The three remaining cooling towers at Didcot A Power Station will be reduced to rubble in a controlled explosion, on Sunday, August 18.

Owners RWE have today confirmed the time of the blast, which will be between 6am and 8am, and said they 'actively discourage all forms of public participation.' 

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Neighbours have been sent letters stating: "The timing of the demolition is determined by a number of factors, therefore it is not possible to give an exact time."

The chimney will be demolished separately in early autumn, on a date yet to be revealed.

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In a statement today, RWE said the date and time were selected to minimise disruption, as this is when the roads around the site are quieter.

The company said: "To ensure that members of the community are kept safe during the demolition process, RWE is actively discouraging all forms of public participation, including attempts to view the demolition from close quarters."

Oxford Mail:

Didcot Power Station boiler house demolition in 2016. Picture: Ric Mellis

RWE and contractor Brown and Mason have been planning the controlled explosion for several months, liaising with the local authorities.

The power station became the scene of tragedy in 2016, when four men were crushed to death as they prepared the boiler house for demolition.

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An exclusion zone will be set up around the site on the day to protect workers and neighbouring residents, in which members of the public will not be allowed to enter.

There will be no road closures but a footpath within the exclusion zone will require closure, RWE said.

Tiernan Foley, RWE's demolition project manager, said: "We understand the power station has been part of the local community for over 48 years and for many people the demolition will mark a significant day for both Didcot and Oxfordshire.

"We would like to thank the local community for their support and all the people who have worked at the site."

Thousands of people gathered at vantage points to see the first three of the six 325ft cooling towers blown up during the early hours of Sunday, July 27, 2014.