A GIANT electrical transformer weighing 170 tonnes has been driven through the streets of Cottingham to replace one damaged by fire earlier this year.
The transformer, which is the size of a house, had been shipped 5,500 miles from Korea.
It arrived at Hull docks yesterday morning and was brought to the Creyke Beck substation on a lorry travelling at about ten mph.
The five-metre long, five-metre high piece of equipment was delivered by National Grid.
Project manager Neil McMinn said: "It's been a great achievement to deliver the transformer to Cottingham substation.
"The challenges of delivering something this size and over such a distance have taken months of planning and collaboration with many agencies and a specialist haulage transport team.
"We are pleased it has gone so well and thank everyone for their patience."
The delivery saw roads closed in the village centre after the transformer went along Clive Sullivan Way from Albert Dock before heading north up the A164.
The final leg of the journey was through Cottingham and then into Park Lane.
Northgate, one of the village's main shopping streets, was shut by police as the load passed through and Park Lane was closed until noon.
National Grid aimed to minimise disruption by bringing the lorry through at a quiet time.
Mr McMinn said: "One of the challenges was the final stretch of the journey.
"Obviously, with such a large object, you have to go very slowly, between ten and 15mph, which is one of the reasons we travel on a Sunday when there is less traffic.
"We give advance warning to the communities and if necessary street furniture has to be removed to enable us to move the transformer around narrow streets."
The lorry drew attention as it made its way slowly past villagers' homes.
People stopped to watch its journey as it moved past the Cross Keys Inn.
Mr McMinn said: "It's truly an amazing sight to see something as big as a house moving down your street."
The transformer will replace an existing one at the Creyke Beck substation after fires broke out there in April.
The emergency services spent hours battling the huge blaze.
Reports suggested oil was on fire and more than six fire engines rushed to the scene.
Witnesses described hearing an explosion before the transformer burst into flames.
Keith Bruton, 67, was painting a fence at a house near the substation when he heard a "loud bang".
He said: "I looked up and saw flames and the dog started barking.
"I couldn't believe it and rang the owner of the house, who rushed back to see what had happened."
Owner Pat Lovelock, 66, said she was "frightened" when she received the call while she was out.
She said: "Because I wasn't there, I didn't know how bad it was and how near the house it was."
Motorists parked up on grass verges to take photographs of transformer yesterday.
Andy Corbett took pictures from the side of the A1079.
He said: "I saw it as soon as I pulled on to the slip road for the A1079.
"It looked big even from that distance."
Internal parts of the transformer reignited days later, causing a second, smaller blaze.
The two fires are under investigation by the National Grid. No one was hurt in either incident.
The new transformer will be used to reduce the voltage of electricity passing through and supply it to homes and business in the region.
It arrived onsite around noon.
