Repaired windmill in full sail

A 60-ton crane was used to fit the new sails

Nottingham's historic Greens Mill should be back to full working order this week after months of repairs.

For the past five months it has been operating on only two sails.

Two new sails have been made in Lincoln and final adjustments will be made on Tuesday.

The mill, once home to noted 19th Century mathematical physicist, George Green, will be open to the public from Wednesday.

The sails are over 50 feet long

The original problem was not with the sails themselves.

Miller David Bent said: "The problem was that the beam which held the sails together had become rotten.

"We noticed this two years ago and had monitored the situation.

"A year ago we stopped the mill, and last March we took the sails off as it had become too dangerous."

The mill had been left with just two sails while craftsmen built replacements.

Half power

Mr Bent said: "These are big pieces of laminated wood, 52 feet long, 12 inches square in the middle and nine inches square at the ends.

"They are very difficult things to make and the people in Lincoln had to take their time."

The sails had to be moved into place using a 60-ton crane which could only just squeeze into the area around the mill.

The removal of two sails meant the windmill could only work at half power.

Millwrights will be working on Tuesday to make final adjustments, but the mill will be open to the public from Wednesday and, weather permitting, working at full power.