Lights on famous beacon are out

It has been a dark start to the new year at the top of Shropshire landmark The Wrekin - after the famous beacon which flashes throughout the night went out.

Now strong winds have stopped engineers reaching the top of the telecommunications mast to fix the fault.

Steve Arnold, for National Grid Wireless, said the lights first went off before Christmas and engineers replaced the bulbs but the lights then failed again sometime over the Christmas period.

"We are aware that lights are off," said Mr Arnold.

"The lights are not on during the day anyway, but usually flashes intermittently during the night. We are waiting for the appropriate weather conditions to go up the mast to fix the fault."

The Wrekin Beacon was switched on at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve to mark the new millennium.

The old Wrekin Beacon had been put up during World War Two to ward off aircraft, and had flashed its friendly light, which was seen as a welcome home by many travelling Salopians, until the mid-1960s.

Its return was inspired by John Wall of Shrewsbury, and the idea quickly gathered support as a way of welcoming in the new era.

Today's Wrekin Beacon is not in the same place as the original, but is two lights on The Wrekin mast.