Bringing down the bell

Last updated 14:05 12/04/2011

 

Deconstruction work has begun on the precarious Christchurch Catholic cathedral.

Work to bring down the main copper dome and north towers of Barbadoes St's Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrement is expected to be complete by late May.

The two structures are at risk of collapsing, should another large aftershock hit.

The cathedral was badly damaged in February's quake, although the full extent of the devastation will not be known until the building is declared safe for assessors to enter. This will happen once parts of the two front towers and the main dome have been dismantled.