One of London's last original working power stations is closing after 100 years.

The last turbine at the vintage Lots Road Power Station in Chelsea, west London, is being switched off by transport minister John Spellar on Monday.

The station was one of the oldest working power stations in Europe and was built in 1902 for the switch from steam to electric trains.

For the past 97 years it has supplied electricity to London Underground's District and Metropolitan lines.

Emergency power

The Tube will now get all its power from the National Grid.

The smaller station in Greenwich will be kept for emergency power.

A London Underground spokesman said: "It is the end of an era.

"It has been a bit of a landmark in that part of Chelsea, but it is no longer cost effective for us to generate our own electricity."

Construction company Taylor Woodrow bought the site from London Underground for �34m in 1998.

The power station will be kept, but the site is to be converted into shops and flats by developers after decontamination work.