Glasgow’s Red Road tower blocks will be demolished as part of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony (Picture: Google Maps)

Five iconic tower blocks are set to be blown up as part of Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.

The 30-storey buildings are part of the Red Road estate which has featured on the Glasgow skyline since the 1960s and has inspired numerous songs, films and books.

A 100ft screen inside the Celtic Park stadium will show their demolition live when the Games get underway on July 23.

‘Red Road has an iconic place in Glasgow’s history, having been home to thousands of families and dominating the city’s skyline for decades,’ explained leader of Glasgow’s city council Gordon Matheson.




‘Their demolition is symbolic of the changing face of Glasgow, not least in terms of our preparations for the games,’ he added.

The removal of the tower blocks will be a signal of a greater regeneration in the city that the Games are hoped to inspire.

Eileen Gallagher, chairwoman of the Glasgow 2014 ceremonies, said: ‘By sharing the final moments of the Red Road flats with the world, Glasgow is proving it is a city that is proud of its history but doesn’t stand still.

‘A city that is constantly regenerating, renewing and re-inventing itself.’

As part of the project, 887 homes will be evacuated in the surrounding area as 1250kg of explosives are used to take down the tower blocks.

Demolition of the original eight towers began in 2012 and after this ambitious effort there will be just one remaining.