By James Cook BBC Scotland reporter

In the end, it only took a few seconds after 1244 BST on Sunday, to demolish the Sharps and Yeamans Courts multi-storey buildings in Dundee.

Dozens of local people watched the destruction of the council flats in the Lochee area of the city, which were built in 1969 but had become increasingly difficult to let.

The operation cost �800,000 to carry out and involved the controlled explosion of some 240 flats contained in the two multi-storeys.

Technically, it has been perfect, and the rubble landed exactly where it was supposed to

William Sinclair Safedem

Explosives placed throughout the buildings detonated and the tower blocks came crashing to the ground.

Steve Lindsay, 30, was born in the shadow of the tower blocks, and described the demolition as a unique and moving experience.

"It was pretty unique, they (the buildings) were landmarks and the whole experience was very noisy," Mr Lindsay said.

The flats were initially filled in 1969 and were designed to alleviate overcrowding in Dundee's city centre.

'Extremely pleased'

However, Jill Shimi, of Dundee City Council, said that after a promising start the flats soon became unpopular.

"In the first 20 years they fulfilled their purpose," she said.

"They managed to take people from the centre of the city and ease the problems of overcrowding.

"But they then became unpopular, with lots of empty properties. This was unfair on the residents who actually lived there.

"The flats were no longer cost effective and, in the end, they had to come down."

The man in charge of the demolition said he was "extremely pleased" that the operation went smoothly.

'A view'

William Sinclair, of Safedem, said his company had carried out several demolitions in the city before and he was happy this one had been a success.

"The whole operation has gone really well," he said.

"Technically, it has been perfect, and the rubble landed exactly where it was supposed to."

With live electricity and gas supplies close by it was imperative that nothing went wrong, he added.

More demolitions are planned in the city as the council continues to remove housing which it cannot fill.

For Steve Lindsay, the demolition represented both the end of an era and the chance to view Dundee's skyline in a different light.

He said: "At least now I will be able to get a view of the hills instead of always looking at those multi-storeys."