THE Red Road flats development was originally eight tower blocks in the north east of Glasgow between Balornock and Barmulloch.

The high rises were designed in 1962 by architect Sam Bunton for the Glasgow Corporation, which later changed to Glasgow City Council, and built between 1964 and 1969.

The blocks were designed to accommodate about 4700 people and were commissioned to help tackle the post-war housing crisis.

Six of the eight blocks were traditional point-shaped and had 30 storeys. Two were broader slab-shaped and had 25 storeys.

Early residents welcomed the flats at first because they compared favourably to many of Glasgow's dilapidated tenements.

But in the 1970s the high rises were becoming run down and developed social problems.

They gained a reputation for crime, anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drug problems.

In 1977 a 12-year-old boy died in a fire on the 23rd floor.

The blaze caused serious damage and 100 families had to be evacuated overnight.

Many residents refused to return and the tower blocks were branded a death trap.

By the 1980s housing teams had installed CCTV and other security measures to tackle the problems.

Two of the tower blocks were also transferred by students and the YMCA.

When Glasgow began accepting refugees and asylum seekers to the city in 2000, many were housed in the Red Road development.

Conditions came under scrutiny again after a number of suicides among residents, including the Serykh family - three asylum seekers - who leapt from the balcony of their flat in 2010 after their claim for refugee status was refused.

Glasgow Housing Association (GHA) - which took over the council's housing stock in 2003 - announced it would demolish one of the tallest blocks as part of a regeneration plan. It was later decided all would come down.

The first demolition happened in June 2012. The second demolition took place in May 2013.

Late last year, the last-ever residents of Red Road - who were asylum seekers living in Petershill Court - were moved from the site and six blocks remain.

THE city's skyline was due to change forever during the Opening Ceremony of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

In the run-up to the July 23 event, Glasgow 2014 announced its plans to blow up the six remaining Red Road blocks live.

The plans caused a huge outcry, with critics branding it insensitive to former and current residents.

The organisers later abandoned the scheme, blaming health and safety concerns on their decision.

It is understood the demolition would have taken place at the beginning of the Opening Ceremony.

The 15-second spectacle was due to be projected onto a huge screen into Celtic Park, where the event was held.

It would have been screened to a TV audience of 1.3billion viewers.

Read: At last: Red Road to be demolished