Two South Yorkshire men missing after collapse of power station

Ken Cresswell, aged 57 and John Shaw 61, were working at Didcot power station in Oxfordshire when it collapsed last month - killing one man and trapping three others.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: “The family of Ken Cresswell, aged 57, from Rotherham, confirmed that their loved one is missing following the partial collapse of Didcot A Power Station on February 23.

“Ken is loved very much and his family haven’t given up hope of him being recovered and returned home.

“The family of John Shaw, aged 61, from Rotherham, confirmed that their loved one is missing. John is loved very much and his family haven’t given up hope of him being recovered and returned home.”

Police met with the families yesterday.

“Our priority remains the recovery of their loved ones so they can be returned to their families and to understand what caused this incident,” added the police spokesman.

Emergency services have since said it is ‘highly unlikely’ that those missing are still alive and last week stated that the recovery operation could take months.

The third demolition worker buried and left unaccounted for has been named by his family as Chris Huxtable.

His partner Jade Ali has launched a petition in a bid to find the missing men.

Ms Ali, from Swansea, said: “We need them home. Minutes are turning into hours, and days are turning into weeks.

“Get these three hard working men out and back home.”

The petition has gathered more than 1,200 signatures so far.

A supervisor who missed the collapse by seconds said it is ‘ridiculous’ that three trapped colleagues have not been uncovered from the wreckage.

Matthew Mowat said: “There are quite a few people feeling blessed, including myself - and then feeling guilty and frustrated on not being able to get our friends out and sent home.

“We all need closure on it, the guys and the families. We need to move forward and get them out - I would do it by hand if I could.”

The 49-year-old added: “I feel guilty in not being under there with the guys and for coming home because they are still there left under that steel - it is ridiculous they are not out.”