'Meccano-style' bridge opens in Bolton

Liam Curtin who designed the bridge said the project had been a childhood dream

A giant "Meccano-style" footbridge in Greater Manchester has been officially opened.

The £90,000 steelwork bridge crosses the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal at Nob End in Little Lever, Bolton.

Designed by artist Liam Curtin, it has a span of 6.4m (21ft) and a height of 1.3m (4ft 3in).

Mr Curtin and members of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society built the bridge which replaces a disused horse bridge.

He said the project was the fulfilment of a childhood dream.

'Art and fantasy'

"I spent my entire childhood building mechanical devices from Meccano and now we have the largest set in the world," Mr Curtin said.

He said the bridge was a "fusion of art, engineering and fantasy".

"Every piece is a genuine scaled-up Meccano parts all made in Bolton including the massive nuts and bolts," said Mr Curtin.

As well as other activities, the official opening also featured a marquee featuring models by the North West Meccano Guild.

Meccano was invented by Frank Hornby in 1901.

It is a system of metal construction where parts can be attached to each other, which is often used in industry to build prototypes.