Poole bridge to close for 'essential' work

The bridge has seven time-tabled lifts and carries about 20,000 vehicles daily

Poole's lifting bridge is to be out of use for one week while essential repairs are carried out.

The 89-year-old bridge, which links Poole to Hamworthy, needs maintenance work on its lifting leaves, mechanics and lighting.

It will shut to all road traffic, including cyclists and pedestrians on 21 September from 07:00 BST.

The borough council said mariners would be unaffected and the Twin Sails Bridge would remain open during the closure.

The two bridge crossings, spanning the town's busy shipping channel, prevent a six-mile drive around Holes Bay to get between Hamworthy and Poole.

The Twin Sails Bridge is expected to closed for repairs for up to one week in March.