Repair work to Whitby swing bridge nears completion

The upgrade is part of a £4m project to improve the town's transport network

Major work to repair a North Yorkshire swing bridge used by thousands of people is nearly finished.

A £250,000 upgrade to the 103-year-old bridge in Whitby began in September but was hampered by the weather.

The work has been designed to restore its appearance and reduce the likelihood of breakdowns.

The council said painting of the underside of the main beams and an upgrade of the navigation lights would be completed by the end of April.

'Centre of tourism'

The upgrade is part of a £4m project to improve the town's transport network.

The bridge's computerised technology has also been upgraded, which means faults can be precisely located to speed up repairs.

North Yorkshire county councillor Joe Plant said: "Whitby is one of the country's major centres of tourism and is very proud of its historic bridge which connects the north and south sides of the town at its centre.

"This upgrade will ensure the bridge remains in good condition into the future."