A PAIR of nesting peregrine falcons delayed routine maintenance work on a city centre bridge.

Inspections are carried out on Ouse Bridge in York every two years but on discovering the pair of protected birds, Highways England called in the experts.

The RSPB advised engineers to wait until the peregrine chicks have left the nest before carrying out their regular bridge checks.

Mark Ramsden of Highways England said: “We have worked with the RSPB to make sure we do everything we can to not upset the chicks and their parents.

“We have now been able to schedule our work outside of fledgling period and hope that the pair will produce chicks for many years to come.

“During peak times up to 23,000 drivers use the bridge each day and this is just part of the activity that goes on behind the scenes on this major Yorkshire landmark.”

To carry out the inspections engineers use a specialist underbridge unit which lowers workers beneath the structure.