A gasholder that dates back to the 1880s could be lost forever after plans to tear it down were given the go-ahead by Greenwich Council.

SGN asked the council to dismantle the structure near the Blackwall Tunnel in Millennium Way for safety reasons.

The gas company said it is dismantling all its gasholders, including the historic structure at East Greenwich Gas Works, because the industry has developed new ways of storing gas.

A spokesman said: "It’s no longer sustainable for us to keep these structures in a safe and visually acceptable condition long-term. However, as part of our dismantling programme, we are committed to celebrating and capturing the history of our gasholders.

"We understand that to many people these iconic structures act as a visual reminder of an area’s history.

"Therefore, we are working with communities, local history groups and museums to ensure each holder we dismantle has its history captured for future generations to learn from."

The decision, made by council chiefs, has been met with outcry from local officials and east Greenwich residents.

Matthew Pennycook, MP for Greenwich, wrote on Twitter: "I know from my postbag there are a wide range of views about the value of the gasholder but I take the view that something creative could and should have been done with it, both as a nod to our industrial heritage and to enhance the peninsula."

Gasholders have made headlines nationally for being renovated into luxury apartments, as seen in Kings Cross.

Elsewhere in Lewisham, residents were furious over plans to replace Sydenham gas holders with an Aldi - a scheme that was eventually rejected.

Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of Greenwich Conservatives, said: "The gas holder is an important part of our local industrial heritage, and surely a solution can be found that retains this for the future.

"Other councils have 'locally listed' similar structures to protect them - why haven't Labour councillors in Greenwich done the same?"

The gasholder was damaged during the Second World War and the Silvertown Factory explosion, and was also damaged in an IRA bomb attack in 1979.

Dan Hayes, the chairman of East Greenwich Residents Association, said: "EGRA were surprised and saddened to hear that the Greenwich iconic gas holder was under threat of demolition.

"We would ask that all stakeholders consider a more imaginative outcome for the site that reflects the industrial history of Greenwich and seek to retain the Gas holder within any future development.

"Award winning architecture at Kings Cross shows us what is possible, surely Greenwich is deserving of a similar approach."

The decision was made last week by council planning officers.

Greenwich Council confirmed the go ahead has been given for demolition but there was no further comment available at the time of writing.