Rest and Be Thankful: Helicopter helps move giant boulders

A helicopter has been dropping water to help manoeuvre rocks into safer positions

A helicopter has helped engineers move giant boulders to safe locations at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful following landslips.

Engineers said about 6,000 tonnes of debris was moved across the hill above the A83 and Old Military Road (OMR) at multiple locations on Tuesday.

Water was dropped from above while a hydraulic jack was used to force the huge rocks into safer positions.

The boulders had to be moved before clear-up work could continue.

• Boulders 'as big as cars' at Rest and Be Thankful

The rocks, which included a 100-tonne boulder- were shifted further down a steep channel.

Eddie Ross, from Bear Scotland which manages the A83, said: "Due to their size and position it was unsafe for us to carry out any clear-up operations or safety assessments until they were in a suitable, safe position.

"We're now continuing to press on with operations on the OMR with what remaining daylight there is left.

"Until the clear-up work is complete and a full safety assessment for any damage to the road is complete we cannot open the OMR or A83, therefore they have to remain closed overnight.

Tuesday's landslips occurred during heavy rain in Argyll.

A further 100 tonnes of rock and soil slipped down to the A83 overnight on Wednesday and Thursday.

As well as the helicopter, a team of 42 people using 16 different vehicles have been working to reopen the roads.