Bridge love locks to be unveiled in their new home

There are 55,000 or 60,000 locks on the structure, said Mrs Harrison

Thousands of love locks are to be unveiled in their new home on the most romantic day of the year, after being removed from a footbridge in Derbyshire.

The padlocks were previously attached to Weir Bridge in Bakewell but Derbyshire County Council took them off for repair work and was due to melt them down.

However, after public outcry they were given to the Grade-II listed Thornbridge Hall and on Friday 14 February - Valentine's Day - there is a launch event for their new home, called the Love Locker.

Emma Harrison, owner of Thornbridge Hall, said: "It is a massive day unveiling the Love Locker - I can't believe it's actually happening."

The structure will be unveiled to the public on Friday to coincide with Valentine's Day

When it was announced in the summer the locks were to be removed from Weir Bridge, people shared memories and love stories associated with them.

Mrs Harrison said when she was asked if the locks could be moved to Thornbridge Hall, near Great Longstone, she said "yes straight away".

"They said I was the last-ditch option, but I had no idea what I was saying yes to," she added.

"I have done nothing but talk about locks, dream about locks, for months and months.

"I was so glad I was asked in the end - it has been an utter privilege."

Love locks in the air

She said she was told there would be 40,000 locks, five tonnes' worth, but she did some calculations and believes it was more.

"I think we are approaching 55,000 or 60,000 locks and seven-and-a-half tonnes," she said.

"The original bridge had about 250m of wire on it. I re-designed the new structure with three or four times that amount of wire.

"There is plenty of space for new locks, too."

She said work started to install the structure and locks at the beginning of the year.

"I had fantastic volunteers. We started on 6 January and by 6 February, we were done," she said.

"The whole structure had been built, all the locks were on all in their proper places.

"So anyone who knows where their lock was on the bridge will be able to find it on the Love Locker."

Mrs Harrison said Friday would be a "fantastic party" and the structure would be unveiled at 12:00 GMT.

Mrs Harrison said: "Everybody said we wouldn't make it in time for the 14th, but guess what? We have"