Captain Webb's memorial is removed from Dawley High Street for repairs. Nick Morris from Eura Conservation, based in Halesfield and, right, Phillip Edwards from JP Smith and Sons Ltd transport, based in Wem check the straps are in place. Pictures by Andy Cunningham.

Engineers tackled a delicate operation in Telford today as a monument to one of the town’s most famous sons was lifted and taken away for urgent repairs.

Crowds looked on as the 11ft Portland stone memorial to Captain Matthew Webb, who was the first man to swim the English Channel, was carefully taken apart and lifted by a crane onto a truck.

The structure in High Street in Dawley was damaged when it was hit by a lorry on February 16.

It has been taken away for repair after it was knocked a few feet off its plinth.

Andrew Smith, project development manager for Telford & Wrekin Council, which is overseeing the repair work, said: “The monument is going to be taken to Stafford Park to be kept in council storage until it can be assessed and repaired.

“We are hoping that the repairs will happen as soon as possible. We are employing specialist contractors to do the job and are quite positive it will be back in its original spot before its centenary celebrations in October.

“The council was informed of the damage very quickly by members of the public, who were very concerned that the iconic memorial had been forgotten, but that is, of course, not the case.”

Onlookers in the town held their breath as the foundation stone of the monument, which was put in place in memory of Captain Webb on October 23, 1909, was lifted up into the air by crane and onto the lorry.

Christine Pickering, 56, of Lancaster Place, Dawley, said: “I think it is a good thing that they are fixing it, it was sad to see it had been damaged.”

Mario Noto, 54, of High Street, said: “I am glad to see they are fixing it, after all the captain was a Dawley man born and bred like me, so he is a very important part of the parish.”

Anton Brothwood, Dawley parish councillor, said: “I had been doing a bit of research into the memorial and when I found out that it was 100 years old this year I thought it was a real shame that it had to get damaged during this special year.

“We were thinking of doing something special to mark the occasion so maybe the fact that it is going to be spruced up and repaired is a good thing, then we could do a proper unveiling of it.”

By Emma Black