Didcot A accident: company had never knocked down a power station before

Hiring of Birmingham demolition firm Coleman defended by RWE npower as rescue efforts and inquiry continue

The company demolishing the defunct Didcot power station in Oxfordshire, where at least one person died on Tuesday, had not previously worked on a power station.

The Birmingham-based Coleman Group was awarded the contract to dismantle the Didcot A coal and gas-fired station by RWE npower. The power station collapsed Tuesday afternoon while its workers were preparing the structure for demolition.