Didcot recovery "could start by the weekend"

RWE npower, the owners of the partially-collapsed decommissioned Didcot plant in Oxfordshire, has now presented the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Thames Valley Police (TVP) with a recovery plan for continuing searching for Ken Cresswell and John Shaw, from Rotherham and Christopher Huxtable from Swansea.

It follows a protests by families at the site on Sunday and pressure from Rotherham MP Sarah Champion.

The HSE and Thames Valley Police said in a statement: “RWE has today presented a plan to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Thames Valley Police (TVP) to commence work on the collapsed debris, ready to recover the missing men.

“Starting today, large equipment and people will be arriving on site to start work to enable the recovery operation to resume at the weekend, sooner if possible.

“Progress with the plan over the coming days will be closely monitored by HSE and TVP.

“Our priority remains the recovery of the missing men so they can be returned to their families and to understand what caused this incident.

“Specialist officers from Thames Valley Police continue to support the families and are providing them with regular updates on the progress of this work.”

MP Sarah Champion condemns "shameful" delay in Didcot rescue operation