IT WAS the end of an era. The last residents were leaving Macclesfield's notorious Victoria Park Flats.
On a cold March morning in front of the last surviving block of flats - Ely Court - a small crowd gathered to mark the momentous occasion.
The mayor was there, with fellow councillors and housing officials. The press had also turned out to record the landmark event.
But there were three VIPs - key players in the special ceremony - missing.
Despite being the last family living in the multi-storey flats, Margaret Newton, her daughter Linda Newton and her grandson Hayden Jackson - weren't at home.
Mystery surrounds their whereabouts on their big day but it is thought they might have changed their mind about all the fuss and slipped quietly out.
When someone was sent to knock on the door to fetch them there was no answer.
Mayor Muriel Clampett was slightly thrown by the fact the guests of honour hadn't turned up. But she had been told that Margaret Newton had been unwell and might not have been able to make the ceremony.
A council spokesman said: "We had had information beforehand that Margaret was unable to attend.
"I'm assuming the son, Hayden, couldn't get time off work. As to why the mother, Linda, didn't come I can only speculate. Possibly she felt a little bit overawed by the absence of the rest of her family."
Coun Clampett still thanked the family for putting up with all the disturbance while work was being done around them.
She said: "In effect they have been living on a building site."
Bulldozers moved in in July 2000 to start flattening the hated high rise blocks.
Margaret Newton has lived in the flats since 1975 and Linda has had a flat there since 1995.
On Monday they will quitting their flat for good and be moving less than a mile up the road to the Hurdsfield Estate to a traditional three-bedroom house with a garden.
Coun Clampett said: "Victoria Park has been a major impact on the skyline for over 30 years.
"This occasion will mark the beginning of the final demolition. It's a great pleasure to see the final phase. A lot of people will say thank goodness for that."
When government minister Anthony Greenwood opened the complex he described them as 'the finest housing development in the country'.
But by the Eighties the rabbit warren estate had become a housing hell, spoiled by a few for everyone. Problems such as drugs and vandalism made life in the flats very unpleasant.
After extensive consultation with the residents, which was followed by a ballot, it was decided to demolish the flats, rehouse the residents and redevelop the area with traditional properties.
Over the past few years more than 1,000 people have moved from the 543 homes and the first phase of redevelopment is well underway.
