24.08.2007

Dock crane collapses after fire

A 25 tonne, 100 ft dock crane on the banks of the Tyne collapsed following an electrical fire in the early hours of yesterday morning.

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The crane before the fire

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After the fire

Emergency crews were called to the blaze at the A&P docks on Wagonway Road in Hebburn. No one was injured during the incident, but substantial damage was caused to the dockyard when the crane broke up, according to Northumbria Police.

It is believed an electrical fault caused the crane, valued at between £2million and £3million, to ignite.

Firefighters spent two hours tackling the fire and today representatives of the Health and Safety Executive launched an initial probe into the incident.