WRECKING crews succeeded where German Second World War bombers had failed and pulled apart the iconic Abbey Baths in Barrow.

The public swimming pool had been badly damaged in 1941, repaired and extended in the 1950s and closed in September 1991.

In that month, Cumbria County Council applied to demolish the Abbey Baths to make way for a new Furness Magistrates' Court and borough councillors threw a spanner in the works by calling for the facade of the 1914 building to be retained.

By April the following year, the clearance of the site was started by Hindle Plant Hire,of Lindal — at an estimated cost of more than £50,000.

One of the toughest bits to bring down was the boilerhouse brick chimney.

The Mail, on April 29, noted: "Contractors Arthur Roberts and Dave Pearson battled for more than a day to level the chimney which concealed an older chimney and steel reinforcement."

The outer chimney had been built in the 1950s when the baths were extended.

By May 7 just the facade of the main entrance and the large pool were left standing.

The Mail noted: "Above the entrance, a neon sign spelling 'Baths' still hangs down precariously,awaiting its final fate."

June 4 saw excavators ripping up the main pool walls.

They included one with its painted notice saying "Deep End, swimmers only".