It was once an eagerly anticipated new block of flats , built to help with the housing crisis in Hull and standing as the city 's tallest building . But in a mere eight seconds Highcourt , a 20-storey tower block measuring more than 190ft high in the Orchard Park estate of Hull , was flattened to leave just a pile of rubble behind . People lined the streets to watch the demolition , which took place almost 50 years after the high rise was first built . Scroll down for video . Highcourt , Hull 's tallest building ( left ) containing flats , was demolished and turned into a pile of rubble ( right ) in just eight seconds . The tower was demolished using explosives on Sunday afternoon . It was knocked down as part of a 'masterplan ' for the state which will see a new shopping centre , a care home and affordable housing built . But for some people who had seen the vast tower block planned and built , the scale and speed of its destruction was a sad event . Samantha Clark , 58 , said : ' I was a young girl living in north Hull when this block of flats was built . Highcourt was built in 1969 to help with the housing crisis and extended over 19 floors but yesterday explosives were used to demolish it . The building began to topple to the right hand side as the explosives tore through the bottom section and dust and rubble collected . As the tower began to fall huge plumes of smoke and clouds of dust were seen coming from the building as it clattered towards the ground . In seconds the 190ft high building fell towards the ground to make way for a planned new estate that will see new houses built . Eight seconds after the explosion the tower block was no more , and replaced by smoke and piles or rubble as workmen looked on . ' I remember the new building being celebrated because there was a houses shortage at the time but now its demolition is being celebrated . It is quite emotional really . ' The tower was built in 1969 and stood as one of the tallest parts of the city , along with Hull Royal Infirmary . Jim Roles , 61 , said : ' I ca n't believe that a block of flats that size , which took an age to build , could be demolished as quickly as that . The 19 storey building was flattened to the ground on Sunday afternoon and workers will now have to begin clearing the large site . All that is left of Highcourt high rise is now large slabs of concrete and twisted metal after it was demolished within a matter of seconds . The tower block , shown previously , was built in the 1960s and was the tallest building in the city of Hull , as well as the infirmary . 'One minute it was there , the next it was gone and that is that . It was an eyesore but I will miss it when I walk past every morning . ' More than 400 affordable homes are currently being built on the estate - many of which are being made more energy efficient . Councillor John Black , of Hull City Council , said : 'It is an exciting time for residents of Orchard Park . 'Highcourt was one of the tallest buildings in the city along with Hull Royal Infirmary so it is a big deal that it is coming down but our masterplan for Orchard Park will improve the estate hugely . '
Highcourt , Hull 's tallest tower was built almost 50 years ago as block of flats to deal with the housing crisis in 1960s . But it was demolished on Sunday using explosives and was turned into a pile of rubble and dust in eight seconds . Tower demolished for new development thatwill include a care home , shopping centre and affordable housing .