The chimney at the old Kingsnorth power station may have come tumbling down earlier this month but the company behind its demolition is on the up after returning to profit.

Brown and Mason, known as BAM, which was behind the controlled explosion in Hoo, has turned around losses of £4.6m last year caused by a “global rout” in scrap metal prices.

The Dartford-based firm's latest accounts show it made pre-tax profits of £558,000 in the year to the end of April, with turnover up marginally to £47.1m.

In her report in the firm’s annual accounts, company secretary Laura Hadden said metal prices have made a “strong recovery and continue to do so post year-end”.