Delays in plans for recovery of Craven Arms crane

A 40-tonne crane which tumbled down an embankment near Shropshire's Stokesay Castle is still waiting to be moved more than four months after the incident, it emerged today.

The crane, valued at £200,000, overturned on January 26 when two of its wheels came off on an unclassified road behind the castle near Craven Arms. The driver was shocked and dazed but he was unhurt.

Neil Forster, managing director of Direct Crane Hire which owns the machine, said they had been ready to move it since February 7 but did not have any idea when it would be allowed to go ahead.

Shropshire Council has stipulated several conditions about how the crane must be moved and an agreement also has to be reached with the landowner.

Council spokeswoman Laura Owen said the company's plans to move the crane had been accepted by Shropshire Council subject to conditions including taking apart some sections of the crane.