Wales: Snowdon Mountain Railway brings 4x4 down from summit

[John Ashworth]

BBC 8 September 2011 Last updated at 12:41

Snowdon 4x4 brought back down from summit

A 4x4 pick-up truck which was driven up Snowdon by a man with a list of 50 things to do before he dies has been taken off the mountain.

The vehicle has been transported down by the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Craig Williams, 39, from Gloucestershire, who described himself as an out-of-work freelancing vehicle recovery technician, is accused of driving on moorland or common land.

Snowdonia National Park said it was pleased the truck had arrived safely.

Bad weather had prevented the vehicle being removed from near the summit after it was left there on Saturday.

Officials had been working how best to bring the Vauxhall Frontera back down the mountain when bad weather closed in on the 1,085m (3,560ft) peak, the highest in Wales and England.

Spur of the moment

It took three hours to load the truck onto a flat-bedded railway wagon.

The vehicle had been broken into whilst parked near the summit and there was concern that someone may release the handbrake.

It was left about 365m (400 yards) from the summit by Mr Williams, who said he had undertaken the nine-hour drive on the spur of the moment.

A spokesman for the Snowdonia National Park Authority said members were "pleased that the vehicle driven up Snowdon at the weekend has now arrived safely at the bottom of the mountain".

"They are satisfied that the dangers and environmental implications associated with the the act have been clearly expressed over the last few days," he added.

"The vehicle is currently under the care of the Snowdon Mountain Railway Company and the matter continues to be in the hands of the police."

Mr Williams has been bailed to appear before Caernarfon magistrates on 16 September.

[John Ashworth]

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