Pedestrian canal bridge reopens after five months

The closure of the bridge led to residents feeling "cut off"

A footbridge over a canal has reopened after it closed almost five months ago for work to repair its surface.

Hempsted Bridge over the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal shut in April, with its closure also coinciding with work on Netheridge Swing Bridge over the same water.

It led to residents saying earlier this month that they felt "cut off" by the closures, though the Netheridge Bridge reopened after 12 days.

In a statement announcing Hempsted Bridge's reopening, the Canal and River Trust thanked residents for their "patience" while the work was carried out.

During the work on the Hempsted Bridge the timber bridge deck was replaced, while maintenance was carried out on the pivot bearing, which allows the bridge to swing open for boat traffic.

Fendering work was also carried out to protect the bridge from being struck by boats.

While both bridges were shut earlier this month, the Hempsted Residents' Association said it was taking school children up to two hours to get to school, compared to half an hour in normal times.

The Netheridge Swing Bridge, which carries Secunda Way over the canal, reopened on 12 September.

The county council previously said the bridge was closed after a "safety inspection determined that the structure was no longer safe to enable access for pedestrians to use".