A STUNNED police sergeant can only watch in astonishment as tons of masonry come crashing down to earth in front of his eyes.

This dramatic moment was captured by an Evening News photographer at the Delph Mill on Chorley Old Road, Bolton in November 1970.

A severe storm and gale force winds had caused problems all over the town and police had cordoned off the area around the mill. But the sudden collapse of an entire wall of the 170 year old building took everyone by surprise. Fortunately no-one was injured.

The former spinning mill had closed down earlier in the year and was earmarked for demolition. It just looks as though Mother Nature decided to speed along the process.