DAMAGE caused to an iconic village monument by a wayward 40ft lorry will be recovered from the lorry owner's insurance company.

The monument, in the centre of Dobcross village, was knocked from its pedestal when a lorry strayed from a main road route and got jammed in a narrow lane.

It is a memorial to Saddleworth’s first medical officer of health and a new lantern is to be installed to compete the task.

Oldham Council engineers were praised by villagers for their prompt action in returning the monument to its rightful place.

And a council spokesman said: “The restoration has cost just under £5,000 and the money is being recouped from the insurers of the lorry firm involved.”