OVERNIGHT (Saturday, 24 February) an essential piece of power station equipment travelled through Thurrock from the Port of Tilbury en route to Millbrook power station in Bedfordshire.

The load was 50m-long (164ft) and weighed 350-tonne.

"This is an essential piece of equipment for the power station which, when completed, will operate as a peaking plant and only generate electricity at times when the country's need is greatest," a spokesman for the Millbrook power station said.

He said on completion it would have the capacity to generate enough electricity for 150,000 homes.

The first part of its journey saw it leave the Port of Tilbury at 5.45pm as it headed to the M25, taking it along the A1089, Dock Approach Road.

It was guided through the borough with commercial and police escorts.

Overall the journey was planned to take 12 hours to travel 79 miles.

Films and pictures by Tim Harrold.