A GRANDFATHER from Dawlish is set to become Demolition Man for a day, thanks to a competition on BBC Radio Five Live.

Ray Tidmarsh has won a once-in-a-lifetime prize to bring down Wembley Stadium's Twin Towers, one of the best-known sporting images in the world.

Ray said: 'It is funny. I have only been to Wembley once before, the Arsenal versus Man Utd FA Cup Final in 1979 (in which Arsenal won 3-2), and now, for my second visit, I am going to blow it up.'

Ray, 61 and been married to Susan for 38 years, had to guess the year that several famous occasions were held at Wembley, helped only by a brief audio clip of commentary

He also had to write a tie-breaker answer explaining why he wanted to blow up the old stadium.

The clips were played one per morning for eight days and certainly tested Mr Tidmarsh's sporting knowledge.

The answers spanned the British Imperial Empire Exhibition attended by King George V in 1924 to the Rugby Silk Cut Challenge in 1999.

His tiebreaker that clinched the prize – to the question Why do you want to blow up the stadium? – was: 'What a hat-trick – historic old, fabulous new and a great future. To be part of that, tremendous.'

Celebrities are likely to attend the demolition ceremony, but Ray is most keen to meet a man who demolishes for a living: 'The person I would like to meet is Fred Dibnah as his work, demolishing – mainly old buildings – would interest me.

'I don't know if he will be there, though,' said Ray.

The ceremony, in which Ray will push a button to set off explosives which will bring an end to the two towers' 79-year-existence, is scheduled to be at the end of this month, weather permitting .

Ray said: 'Although I feel much the same as anyone about the twin towers going – it is a shame – you don't get a future unless you are prepared to move forward.

'The new stadium, from what I have seen, looks rather good compared to the old one which is a bit past its sell-by date.'

The replacement stadium will not be ready until 2006, hopefully in time for the FA Cup Final that year.

Ray has lived in Dawlish for nearly 13 years, after he and his wife moved from his childhood home of Leicester. they have two sons and two grand-

daughters.

His youngest son, 30, is hoping he can make the journey to the capital bcause he also lives in Dawlish.

Ray's other son, who is 33, will not be able to travel to the demolition as he now lives in New York with his two daughters.