IT took less than ten seconds for 50 years of history to be wiped out.
In the blink of an eye, two 22-storey blocks of flats disappeared from the Orchard Park skyline.
Hundreds looked on as Ashthorpe and Milldane were destroyed by 6kg of explosives, creating a huge cloud of smoke and dust.
As they fell, a large cheer erupted from the crowd – although there was sadness from some.
"I felt gutted watching it come down," said Tony Bailey, 26, who lived in Milldane for seven years.
"It was my first home on my own and I've got really good memories of living there.
"It was the best view of Hull from up on the 18th floor where I lived. I remember having parties, parties and more parties there.
"I don't have a bad word to say about them."
For many people living on the estate, the tower blocks have become a hallmark of Orchard Park and will be missed.
Ian Clarke, 45, said: "I've lived on the estate all my life and they have always been there. Watching them come down was like seeing your childhood being demolished.
"In the space of a few seconds, they were just a pile of rubble. It happened so quickly.
"Years ago, they used to be great. I can remember playing in Milldane all the time when I was a kid, but recently they have got worse. In that sense, I am glad to see the back of them.
"Hopefully, it should make the estate a lot better."
Dawn Norris, 43, of Cladshaw, said it felt like the end of an era to see the buildings come down.
"The flats have been there for such a long time, so it was very emotional. I felt really tearful as it felt like that era has gone.
"I have had friends who lived in both of the blocks and I remember going in there. They have just always been there.
"I looked around them once when I first met my husband and they were good flats.
"I would have liked to have seen them be redeveloped but I think it is a good thing that the council is doing something.
"If they are going to develop the area, that is good, overall."
Both tower blocks have been standing since the 1960s, but were demolished yesterday as part of city council plans to regenerate the estate.
The cabinet committee last year decided to knock down five of the estate's blocks and refurbish a further two.
Since the decision was made, residents have slowly been leaving the blocks with the last tenants packing up a month ago.
Orchard Park councillor Terry Geraghty lived around the corner from Milldane when it was built in the 1960s.
"When they said they were going to build these flats, I couldn't believe it," he said.
"I remember in the first couple of years, one or two people fell off the top and someone painted 'beware of the falling bodies' on the side of it.
"There were a lot of good people in there and many of them lived in there for years.
"It was a good community, but there have been problems since a decision was taken to demolish them, they stopped letting flats to people and they were half-empty.
"They have become a bit of an eyesore, so I am pleased they are coming down. It will give Orchard Park a new beginning."
Ashthorpe was yesterday the first to fall, with Milldane following seconds later.
Hundreds of people gathered in a viewing area to watch the demolition.
More than 170 people were evacuated from their homes while the explosions were carried out, with facilities laid on at Thorpepark Primary School.
Councillor Julia Conner, who also represents Orchard Park, said: "I had mixed emotions watching. It is sad because there will be a lot of people who have happy memories of living there.
"Others may be pleased to see them going as the flats have fallen into disrepair and there were many, many empty flats, which bring problems.
"Ultimately, this is a positive thing for the area because there is a lot of investment coming in."
Today, work will begin on removing the rubble from the area that thousands of people used to call home.
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