Crane lays wind farm foundations

Laying the foundations is expected to take up to three months

A giant crane has laid the first foundations for a new wind farm off the Denbighshire coast.

The Svanen, an 80m (262ft) floating crane, sailed from Holland last month and was used to sink the first of 25 "piles" in the Rhyl Flats project.

Julian Garnsey, foundation construction manager for npower, said the company was pleased with the progress.

It hopes the development will eventually produce enough energy to power up to 61,000 homes.

The Svanen was used to hammer a 40m (131ft) cylindrical steel tube into the sea bed.

Mr Garnsey added: "The construction crew deserve a lot of credit for accomplishing this successfully."

It is expected to take up to three months to install the piles for all 25 turbines.