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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Digger sinks during pond maintenance work | Digger sinks during pond maintenance work |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| The excavator has become stuck, with the remaining water in the pond up to the bottom of its cabin | The excavator has become stuck, with the remaining water in the pond up to the bottom of its cabin |
| A digger has become stuck in the silt-filled pond it is supposed to be repairing. | A digger has become stuck in the silt-filled pond it is supposed to be repairing. |
| Work was being done to "desilt and repair" the Doctors Pond in Great Dunmow, Essex, when the excavator sank, the town council said. | Work was being done to "desilt and repair" the Doctors Pond in Great Dunmow, Essex, when the excavator sank, the town council said. |
| It reassured residents "every effort" was being made to rescue it "as quickly and safely as possible". | It reassured residents "every effort" was being made to rescue it "as quickly and safely as possible". |
| "The town council is working closely with contractors and specialists to minimise any potential disruptions," a statement, external said. | "The town council is working closely with contractors and specialists to minimise any potential disruptions," a statement, external said. |
| The Doctors Pond, in the town centre, is reputedly named after an 18th Century doctor who bred leeches and kept them in the pond for medical use. | The Doctors Pond, in the town centre, is reputedly named after an 18th Century doctor who bred leeches and kept them in the pond for medical use. |
| It is also claimed to have been the location where Lionel Lukin, the inventor of an unsinkable lifeboat, first tested out his creation. | It is also claimed to have been the location where Lionel Lukin, the inventor of an unsinkable lifeboat, first tested out his creation. |
| The Doctors Pond project was estimated to take up to four weeks when it began in October | The Doctors Pond project was estimated to take up to four weeks when it began in October |
| The desilting project was estimated to take between three and four weeks when it started in October, but soon ran into delays. | The desilting project was estimated to take between three and four weeks when it started in October, but soon ran into delays. |
| "I cannot remember seeing a worse shambles than this," said resident Tony Clarke, who moved to Dunmow in 2004. | "I cannot remember seeing a worse shambles than this," said resident Tony Clarke, who moved to Dunmow in 2004. |
| "The council could be responsible for running up a very big bill indeed to put this matter right." | "The council could be responsible for running up a very big bill indeed to put this matter right." |
| Fish were safely removed from the pond at the start of October, with fencing installed and the water pumped into the River Chelmer. | Fish were safely removed from the pond at the start of October, with fencing installed and the water pumped into the River Chelmer. |
| However, "environmental pressures" and "logistical challenges" stalled the project, which the council said required a "significant financial investment". | However, "environmental pressures" and "logistical challenges" stalled the project, which the council said required a "significant financial investment". |
| Mr Clarke, a builder and civil engineer, said in his opinion there was no quick fix to the stuck-in-the-mud digger. | Mr Clarke, a builder and civil engineer, said in his opinion there was no quick fix to the stuck-in-the-mud digger. |
| He said the contract to complete the project, including extensive remedial works to surrounding public open spaces, could "now take many months". | |
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