Nearly two years after a devastating fire caused extensive damage to Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and destroyed its spire, reconstruction of the landmark continues despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
Work has now turned to rebuilding the interior of the 850-year-old cathedral after charred and potentially dangerous scaffolding that surrounded the building in Paris was removed last November, although lead poisoning is a major concern.
Reconstruction efforts to repair damage caused by the April 2019 fire resumed last June after a three-month pause because of the coronavirus outbreak.
Members of Notre Dame's choir sang at the building for the first time since the blaze at a special Christmas Eve 2020 concert.
French President Emmanuel Macron wants the cathedral rebuilt completely by 2024 in time for the Olympic Games in Paris.
Construction experts are looking for about 1,000 trees that are more than 100 years old to replicate the spire and its tower, designed by French architect Eugene Viollet-le-Duc and erected in 1859. The original spire was removed in the late 18th century because it was damaged.
