Pictured: Wolverhampton Goodyear factory torn down piece by piece

But now, nearly a year on from its final closure, what remains of the once iconic city site is gradually being reduced to piles of rubble and debris.

Diggers and demolition workers are now the only people to be found on site at the former factory that bid farewell to the last Goodyear workers in August 2017.

They are busy ripping out the units and clearing the way for what is expected to be new homes.

Former worker Wayne Devaney, who was one of the last men out of the factory last summer, said the buildings in the pictures are a sad sight.

He said they show areas like the main offices, powder rooms, a former canteen and storage rooms among others – all of which would have been a hive of activity in years gone by.

Mr Devaney said: “It is very sad to see the demolition of the plant’s buildings, especially as it was reported that the land would be used to build a business park of small units by local councillors at the time.

“Now we see it has been earmarked for housing yet again. So no long term jobs generated on this site an opportunity missed yet again.

“The saddest part is they have called the housing development Akron Gate the City in America where Goodyear’s world HQ resides. Nothing at all to do with Goodyear Wolverhampton.

"That is poor especially as the hierarchy there never answered the big questions asked by the workforce, unions and local MP Emma Reynolds as to why a profitable plant was closing over loss making plants on the continent. I don’t think they deserve that honour.”

However Mr Devaney said former workers were particularly proud of the Benevolent Fund which is continuing to help good causes in the area.

Since the closure thousands of pounds has been donated to good causes from the Goodyear workers’ 5/344 Transport and General Workers Union Benevolent Fund including vital medical equipment for New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton and a £1.5 million donation to help extend Compton Hospice.

The Goodyear workers’ fund was built up over more than 30 years from sick and distress pay.

Cleared

Work to clear the site is expected to take around six months. It will mark the end of an era for the city, with virtually all trace of the renowned factory to disappear before the end of the year.

Much of the Goodyear plant, which covered a sprawling site off Bushbury Lane and Stafford Road, has already been redeveloped with the final buildings now being removed.

Around 200 more homes will be added to the site by developer St Modwen, along with green space featuring playing areas and football pitches.

Cyril Barrett, chairman of the Unite branch at Goodyear, said he was saddened to see the plant being reduced to rubble.

He said: “It’s tragic for the Goodyear family – the workforce – and tragic for the city.”

The closure of the plant was announced in 2015 after years of scaling down at the once-mighty employer, resulting in the loss of 330 jobs. Bosses concluded the site had become unprofitable.

The decision was a huge blow for the city and more than a 1,000 people signed a petition calling for it to be saved.