13 January 2012Last updated at 18:21

In pictures: New steel dome for Darwen's Jubilee Tower

Lancashire landmark the Jubilee Tower in Darwen has got its dome back - more than a year since it blew off in high winds.

The 85ft (26m) tower, first erected in 1897 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria, was built by two stonemasons, Peter Brindle and Harry Flew, who walked across the moors from Wheelton every day, working tirelessly in often wet and windy conditions.

Tonnes of fine-grained red sandstone from the nearby quarry were used in the construction of the octagonal tower which stands on a base 1,225ft (373m) high.

The new dome, made from powder-coated stainless steel, is the third top to crown the tower, known as Darwen Tower. The original, made from wood, also blew off in high winds in 1947. It was eventually replaced by a fibreglass top after Darwen mayor Bill Lees launched a fund for a new dome in 1971.

A number of businesses offered their services free of charge to help build a new dome. Most of the fabrication work was done by apprentices at the WEC engineering group in the town, supervised by senior designer Peter Roberts.

The new dome cost more than £35,000 and was winched into place by helicopter at about 12:00 GMT on Friday.

Many residents from the town climbed the moors to witness the dome being being put in place.

Lancashire

In pictures: New steel dome for Darwen's Jubilee Tower

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