Apparatus for manipulating a longitudinally extensive member comprising: a main body portion; ground contacting assemblies on which said main body portion is mounted, said ground contacting assemblies being operable for conveying the apparatus over a ground surface; a trench cutting device; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises: a mounting arm depending directly or indirectly from said main body portion and having a proximal end arranged proximate said main body portion and a distal end arranged distal from said main body portion, said distal end of the mounting arm being operatively laterally moveable with respect to the main body portion between a first limit position towards a first side of the apparatus and a second limit position towards an opposite second side of the apparatus and wherein a lifting device configured to lift, and/or a support assembly configured to support, said longitudinally extensive member are mounted on said mounting arm proximate said distal end thereof; and a de-mounting arm depending directly or indirectly from said main body portion opposite said mounting arm and having a proximal end arranged proximate said main body portion and distal end arranged distal from said main body portion, said distal end of the de-mounting arm being operatively laterally moveable with respect to the main body portion between a first limit position towards the first side of the apparatus and a second limit position towards the opposite second side of the apparatus, and wherein a further lifting device configured to lift and/or a further support assembly configured to support said longitudinally extensive member are mounted on said de-mounting arm proximate said distal end thereof. a main body portion; ground contacting assemblies on which said main body portion is mounted, said ground contacting assemblies being operable for conveying the apparatus over a ground surface; a trench cutting device; characterised in that the apparatus further comprises: a mounting arm depending directly or indirectly from said main body portion and having a proximal end arranged proximate said main body portion and a distal end arranged distal from said main body portion, said distal end of the mounting arm being operatively laterally moveable with respect to the main body portion between a first limit position towards a first side of the apparatus and a second limit position towards an opposite second side of the apparatus and wherein a lifting device configured to lift, and/or a support assembly configured to support, said longitudinally extensive member are mounted on said mounting arm proximate said distal end thereof; and a de-mounting arm depending directly or indirectly from said main body portion opposite said mounting arm and having a proximal end arranged proximate said main body portion and distal end arranged distal from said main body portion, said distal end of the de-mounting arm being operatively laterally moveable with respect to the main body portion between a first limit position towards the first side of the apparatus and a second limit position towards the opposite second side of the apparatus, and wherein a further lifting device configured to lift and/or a further support assembly configured to support said longitudinally extensive member are mounted on said de-mounting arm proximate said distal end thereof. a mounting arm depending directly or indirectly from said main body portion and having a proximal end arranged proximate said main body portion and a distal end arranged distal from said main body portion, said distal end of the mounting arm being operatively laterally moveable with respect to the main body portion between a first limit position towards a first side of the apparatus and a second limit position towards an opposite second side of the apparatus and wherein a lifting device configured to lift, and/or a support assembly configured to support, said longitudinally extensive member are mounted on said mounting arm proximate said distal end thereof; and a de-mounting arm depending directly or indirectly from said main body portion opposite said mounting arm and having a proximal end arranged proximate said main body portion and distal end arranged distal from said main body portion, said distal end of the de-mounting arm being operatively laterally moveable with respect to the main body portion between a first limit position towards the first side of the apparatus and a second limit position towards the opposite second side of the apparatus, and wherein a further lifting device configured to lift and/or a further support assembly configured to support said longitudinally extensive member are mounted on said de-mounting arm proximate said distal end thereof.