A helicopter flew in all the way from Switzerland to spearhead a major operation to upgrade a TV transmitter on The Wrekin and pave the way for the digital switch-over.

A Super Puma chopper arrived in Shropshire yesterday to carry away the old, analogue transmitter after it had been unbolted from its mountings on top of the 210ft-high TV mast on the landmark.

The helicopter returned shortly afterwards with new, metal mountings, which were secured in place by engineers. The final run in the delicate operation saw the helicopter fly in with the replacement, four-tonne, digital transmitter before it left to return to Switzerland.

Digital UK’s regional manager Peter Monteith said the work involved turning off analogue signals from The Wrekin and its five relay transmitters, which left thousands without TV pictures for between 24 and 36 hours.

The plug was pulled in the early hours yesterday and although a temporary, replacement transmitter was put in place to restore many people’s connection at 5am that day it still left an estimated 13,000 without pictures which were due to be restored sometime this afternoon.

Mr Monteith said the main areas affected were Wenlock Edge, Whitchurch and Market Drayton.

He said: “Using a helicopter to lower the new, four-tonne digital antenna on to the top of the TV mast was a new technique which avoided manual lifting and disruption on the site.

“Engineers would normally build a temporary mast alongside the existing one but opted to use a helicopter which allowed the work to be completed in a single day and minimised the impact on a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.”

The Wrekin transmitter serves Shr- opshire, south Cheshire, parts of Staff- ordshire and the West Midlands, and was upgraded ahead of the digital switchover. Mr Monteith said: “The Midlands goes digital in 2011. That will be done transmitter by transmitter and there are nine in the region.”

A campaign to inform viewers how to prepare for the switchover will begin in the Central TV region next year.

For details call Digital UK on 08456 505050 or visit digitaluk.co.uk