Collapsed crane is finally removed; First residents return home.

Byline: VICKI KELLAWAY

THE giant crane which collapsed on top of a block of flats in Liverpool city centre was finally removed at the weekend.

It was cut into three pieces before being taken away early yesterday.

Two giant cranes brought into help with the removal also left the scene in the Baltic Triangle area at Wapping yesterday.

The fallen crane was placed into the hands of the Health and Safety Executive who will conduct an investigation into the incident.

Its removal from the scene finally allowed around half the residents living in a neighbouring building at 31-33 Cornhill to return to their homes yesterday, helped back in by police officers.

But for others the wait will go on, possibly for several weeks.

The counter balance of the crane smashed through the roof of the Chandlers Wharf flats at 24-26 Cornhill and remains wedged in the building, making it structurally unsound.

Superintendent Simon Irving, from the North Liverpool Command Team, said: "I'm delighted that the crane has been completely removed from the site this weekend and this now means that some of the residents affected can return to their homes before the start of the week.

"People have been incredibly patient having undergone some serious disruption to their lives and we are grateful to them.

"This has been a very difficult and complex operation requiring vast levels of planning and expertise from all the agencies involved and it is a credit to the teamwork that this breakthrough has been made ahead of schedule.

"Plans are now being put together to remove the counter balance which is still embedded in the damaged building and unfortunately this means it is still not safe for some residents to return to their homes at 24-26 Cornhill."

Another key success yesterday was the re-opening to traffic of nearby Park Lane, one of the key routes through Liverpool city centre.

The first 100ft section of damaged crane was lifted off on Friday after high winds had hindered work the previous day.

Workmen suspended in a metal basket used a blowtorch to cut through the metal - but each time winds crept higher than six metres per second, it became too dangerous for them to be hoisted in the air.

The tower crane crashed into blocks 24 and 26 Cornhill on Monday.

Its driver was thrown from his cab and fell through the hole created as the counter balance crashed through the roof of the flats.

He remains in hospital where he is being treated for serious head, neck and leg injuries.

CAPTION(S):

A 100ft section of crane being lifted clear at Chandler''s Wharf and, left, the damage left behind