THEY have been a familiar sight on the Huddersfield skyline for years.

But within the next few days, two tower blocks at Rashcliffe will disappear forever.

The 11-storey tower blocks - which contain 86 flats - are the last buildings to be cleared from the estate, near Folly Hall, before new housing is erected on it.

The demolition is all part of a £3.32m scheme to improve housing in Thornton Lodge and Lockwood.

Kirklees Housing Services wants to make properties more affordable and reduce overcrowding.

Developers have already cleared four blocks of maisonettes, 13 bungalows and some houses to make way for improved housing stock.

Thirty new houses, which will be rented out, are almost complete.

The first of these 10 five-bedroom and 20 three-bedroom homes were ready for occupation in January.

A planning application has been submitted for 37 more houses, which will be for rent and shared ownership. They will be constructed once the site is clear - a stage set to be reached by June.

The demolition and house building is being undertaken on behalf of Kirklees Housing Services by the Huddersfield-based Sadeh Lok Housing Group and contractors Strata.

Some of the funding for the project has come from the Royal Bank of Scotland, while a £1.65m grant was given to Sadeh Lok Group by the Housing Corporation.

Housing development officer James Hinchcliffe said the demolition of the tower blocks was a major milestone.

He said: "The demolition will change the skyline. Their demolition underlines the council's commitment to improving the area as part of the wider initiative to regenerate the local housing market in Thornton Lodge and Lockwood."