ONE DOWN, five to go.
A digger picks at the remains of a gigantic oil tank in the former HMS Osprey naval base at Portland.
It is one of six being demolished to improve the impression visitors to the island will get and to make way for a new marine-industry based park.
The Regional Development Agency says up to 500 jobs could be created once the whole site is operational.
It took engineers three weeks to take the first 12 metre high drum down, and the remaining work on the three-acre site is expected to last until November.
Stan Malt, operations manager for Portland Port, said he and the engineers had been impressed by the quality of workmanship used to make the 93-year-old drums.
He said: "It has been a very useful exercise. We are using the samples and measurements of the demolished tanks to check on the condition of the ones remaining. I am pleased to say that we have found no evidence of leakage or corrosion - the standard has been excellent."
Portland Port are keeping eight tanks intact, which are likely to be used to store kerosene and other fuel oils such as diesel.
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