The first of the high-power overhead lines near Blagdon Hill above Martinstown have been taken down.

It comes after more than two years of work which has seen replacement lines buried underground as an alternative route.

The next step, once other wires have been removed, will be to take down the massive pylons carrying the power cables.

In all 9km of overhead lines will be removed from the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty which, at times, has resulted in road closures and diversions for local drivers on minor roads and occasional traffic light control on the main Dorchester to Bridport Road.

The team behind the work, Morgan Sindall Infrastructure, have also had to construct their own road to get to most of the site.

Work mostly continued throughout several periods of covid lockdown.

The National Grid works will result in the removal of 22 pylons between Winterbourne Abbas and Friar Waddon at a total cost of £116 million,  improving the landscape.