An iconic chimney at what was once the largest power station in Europe has come crashing down in an explosion this morning as it was demolished.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon pushed the button to ignite the 700kg of explosives that brought down the chimney stack, which stood at Longannet for more than 50 years.

The Fife plant produced Scotland’s last coal-fired energy until it ceased operation in 2016. But the iconic 600ft (183m) chimney remained the largest free-standing structure in Scotland.

Scotland has been coal-free since the station was closed by ScottishPower, which now generates 100% green electricity through its wind and solar farms.

Ahead of the demolition, the owner ScottishPower projected onto the stack the slogan “make coal history,” a catchphrase popularised this year as more and more countries agreed to ditch coal power.

Coal is the most polluting fossil fuel and phasing it out is seen as an urgent step in tackling climate change.

ScottishPower also lit up the chimney with “global warming stripes,” which show the change in global temperature from 1850 to 2020. Shades of blue show cooler-than-average years and red shades show years that were hotter-than-average.

The energy company said the projection “demonstrates the importance of climate action and the need to act now to tackle the climate crisis”.

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