An elderly man who lived on Wales’ most polluted street for 50 years was ‘emotional’ as he returned to watch his former home be demolished.

A row of 23 terraced houses is being torn down after nitrogen dioxide levels were recorded as the highest across the UK, outside central London.

Martin Brown, 74, gathered alongside other ex-residents to watch the property he shared with wife Pat come down.

He said he was sad but added ‘the writing has been on the wall for ten years’ for Woodside Terrace in Crumlin.

Residents were paid to leave their homes by the Welsh Government, with houses bought above market value in a £6 million deal.

But some ex-locals say they fear ongoing health issues are linked to choking fumes from the 21,000 vehicles that used the road each day.

Martin, who moved out in January, said: ‘I don’t know how it has affected my health, but it’s worrying.

‘There are families who lived here, one in particular, a woman, told me her two children were having breathing problems. Is it linked? We don’t know.

‘I’ve got problems now with my eyes and I wonder if it is as a result of all of this.’

Bob Stebbings, 77, who grew up on Hafodyrynys Hill, made the trip back to his beloved childhood area this week.

The pensioner, who lived in the spot 23 years, said he had ‘the best childhood imaginable’.

He said: ‘When I heard they were coming down I wanted to come, for some closure really.

‘I’m very sad, it feels upsetting and I will feel sad not to see the house there anymore. But I know it needs to happen.

‘It always was a smoke trap this place. When I lived here it was all coal fires and in the morning, when everyone lit their fires, you could see the air was blue. It held in here.’

Experts hope the demolition will open up one side of the road to remove a ‘canyon’ effect and reduce the concentration of pollution.

Work was due to begin in May but it was delayed amid the Covid pandemic.

Caerphilly County Borough Council leader Philippa Marsden said: ‘The council, along with the whole community, welcomes the start of these demolition works, which will finally address the long-standing air quality problems at this site.

‘We explored a number of options, but demolition of these properties will allow us to achieve air quality compliance in the shortest possible time frame.’

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