Power station collapse probe to 'finish next year'

An investigation into the Didcot Power Station collapse that killed four workers will be completed next year, police have said.

The disused coal-fired Didcot A plant was set for demolition when part of its boiler house came down on 23 February 2016.

Family members of the victims previously said they found delays to the investigation "shocking" and described the wait as "really hard".

Thames Valley Police's deputy chief constable said the force was now "confident our dedicated and complex investigation... will be complete next year."

Ken Cresswell, 57, John Shaw, 61, both from Rotherham, Michael Collings, 53, from Teesside, and Christopher Huxtable, 34, from Swansea, died in the collapse.

It took more than six months for their bodies to be recovered, prompting criticism from their families.

Mark Anthony, editor of Demolition News, said it was "a national disgrace" that their relatives were still waiting for answers.

Last year, Mr Anthony started a petition calling for a pubic inquiry into the time it had taken.

"Unfortunately, it is not without precedent," he said, comparing it to the investigations into the Hillsborough and Grenfell disasters.

"There's been no pressure from the Home Office or the Home Secretary to make the police at Thames Valley... get everything resolved any quicker."

Deputy Chief Constable Ben Snuggs said the investigation team had collated and analysed more than 6,500 exhibits, 90,000 images and 230,000 digital media artefacts.

"Over 180 hours of video recorded witness and suspect interviews have been conducted, in addition to the 2,812 statements taken," he said.

"We are currently completing the final interviews with suspects and key witnesses, while continuing to gather expert evidence, and additional specialist opinion has been requested.

"The families of the four victims have been updated, along with our partners, witnesses and interested parties."

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