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| Digger sinks in Great Dunmow Doctors Pond during maintenance work | |
| (25 days 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. |
| "We dig a lot of holes but we don't usually end up in them," said Jonathan Little, the digger's owner. | "We dig a lot of holes but we don't usually end up in them," said Jonathan Little, the digger's owner. |
| The council stressed efforts were being made to rescue it "as quickly and safely as possible" while minimising disruption. | |
| 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. |
| Jonathan Little managed to see the humour of the sticky situation | Jonathan Little managed to see the humour of the sticky situation |
| 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. |
| Mr Little, managing director at construction firm Castle Wren, conceded the latest delay was "an unusual situation to be in". | Mr Little, managing director at construction firm Castle Wren, conceded the latest delay was "an unusual situation to be in". |
| He added: "It's annoying, you want to keep projects moving and everything like this is a setback. | He added: "It's annoying, you want to keep projects moving and everything like this is a setback. |
| "Whilst we expect to get it out, if I don't then it will be a nice new Christmas tree for next year - we'll put some lights round it." | "Whilst we expect to get it out, if I don't then it will be a nice new Christmas tree for next year - we'll put some lights round it." |
| He said his firm would be "responsible for restoring grassed areas, benching , pathways etc". | He said his firm would be "responsible for restoring grassed areas, benching , pathways etc". |
| 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 |
| About 12,000 fish were safely removed from the pond at the start of October, with fencing installed and the water pumped into the River Chelmer. | About 12,000 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". |
| Amanda Lindsell, the council clerk, added: "We are very frustrated, we just want our pond back how it was. | Amanda Lindsell, the council clerk, added: "We are very frustrated, we just want our pond back how it was. |
| "I'm hopeful in the summer this will be long forgotten and everything will be back to normal." | "I'm hopeful in the summer this will be long forgotten and everything will be back to normal." |
| Listen: Digger sinks into ancient Great Dunmow pond | Listen: Digger sinks into ancient Great Dunmow pond |
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