A FASCINATING and moving film has immortalised one of the borough s most defining landmarks, a year after it was torn down. Verity-Jane Keefe made her documentary called Rooms with a View about life in and around the old Lintons tower block flats. And t

A FASCINATING and moving film has immortalised one of the borough's most defining landmarks, a year after it was torn down.

Verity-Jane Keefe made her documentary called 'Rooms with a View' about life in and around the old Lintons tower block flats.

And the work was screened last week as the empty demolition site of the former council block in Linton Road was turned into a temporary open-air cinema.

The 18-minute film was projected onto a large screen to more than 200 guests who braved the rain and freezing temperatures.

Verity said: "I am thrilled with how it went. I was really excited about bringing together so many different groups of people to an event.

"They included former residents, councillors, the developers, demolition staff who bulldozed the place, architects of the new site, regeneration department people, and Thames Gateway officials."

The huge 1962 structure, which housed 700 people in 256 flats, was demolished a year ago to make way for a new development.

The film shows The Lintons being demolished over a period of three months, with still shots of the deserted and dilapidated interior interrupted by moving footage of cranes gnawing away at the building.

Verity-Jane worked with former residents whose anecdotes added a wistful soundtrack to the images on screen.

People remembered cooking smells in corridors, the standard lounge with three-bar electric fireplace, floral wallpaper in every flat, and the breathtaking views.

One former resident said: "Sunday was 'row day' when people would have noisy arguments without realising that the neighbours could hear them."

'A Room With a View' was funded by the Arts Council, Barking and Dagenham Council, and 777 Demolition.

It will be placed in the borough's libraries, and transcripts of the interviews will be kept in archives at Valence House Museum.

Verity-Jane is now planning the second stage of her project, dealing with the re-development of the site.