Giant ladle move delayed

The giant industrial scoop closed Herringthorpe Valley Road, Stag, after it slid partway off a 14-wheel low-loader after its driver allegedly swerved to avoid another vehicle.

Traffic was diverted from the stretch between the Stag roundabout and Worrygoose Island, Whiston, for almost seven hours while police waited for a heavy duty crane to arrive.

The ladle was eventually lifted back onto the lorry but was sent back to Tata Steel’s Aldwarke Lane works.

A police spokeswoman said: “Due to the size of the vehicle and its load it was not appropriate or safe for it to travel during peak traffic or in the dark.

“The advice was to wait until after peak traffic this morning and set-off again.”

However, Tata said this morning that they had not yet decided when to move the giant piece of equipment.

Our picture of the giant piece of equipment stranded half on and half off the lorry was sent in by reader John McCormick.

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