A FORMER helicopter pilot captured the operation to replace a section of a bridge over the A12 from above.

Richard Harwood, 68, of Doggetts Lane, Marks Tey, used a drone to shoot footage of the crane replacing Ewell Bridge over the A12 at the Kelvedon junction.

Mr Harwood said: “It was an obscenely massive crane to lift a section of bridge like that - it was quite something to see.

“The road was completely closed and so it was empty except for the worker’s lorries, which was a strange sight.”

The A12 was shut between junctions 23 at Kelvedon south and 24, Kelvedon north, over the weekend and a diversion route was put into place.

Mr Harwood owns Astilbe Unmanned Aerial Services, one of only five companies in the area to be licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority to take photos and videos using drones.

He said: “I worked as a helicopter pilot for 30 years but after my eyesight started going I got into the smaller unmanned vehicles.

“Flying a drone is completely different from flying the real thing.

“This country is only just getting to grips with them but they will be a big thing in the future.”

Work to repair the Ewell Bridge was delayed in January due to ongoing repairs to Coleman’s Bridge in Witham.