Remains of an old bridge have been exposed at one of the North East’s main reservoirs as water levels remain low after the summer.
New pictures show a normally-submerged bridge which is now on show at Derwent Reservoir after levels at sites across the region fell amid hot and dry weather over the summer months.
The Northern Echo went down to the North East's second biggest reservoir to see the rare sight for ourselves.
In the image the top deck of what appears to be a bridge is shown coming above the water after reservoir levels have fallen.
It is not clear what the now-exposed bridge was used for however it has been reported that two miles of roads were submerged when the reservoir was built, and so the bridge may be part of this former infrastructure and date from the 1950s, before construction started.
Read more: Shock as Aycliffe four year old spotted riding dangerously on front of quad bike
Work on the reservoir began in 1960 and it took six years to build, being officially opened a year later by Princess Alexandra, a cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, on July 18, 1967.
Pamela Fowler, a member of the Northern Echo's camera club who saw the bridge exposed said: "[I've] never seen it so low even an old bridge is showing from before the Reservoir was first flooded."
And another camera club member commented: "It's amazing that water levels are still dropping, though still some way to go till it replicates 1989."
It comes after months of hot weather left reservoir levels low, which led to the introduction of hosepipe bans in some parts of the country in August.
While the North East avoided any bans, Yorkshire’s hosepipe restrictions came into place a month ago on August 26 and remain in place.
Forecasters are hoping for some wetter weather to allow reservoirs to fill up without flooding caused by rain falling onto hard, dried out ground.
Read next:
- We tried Darlington's newest Italian restaurant - and here's our verdict
- Letters of no confidence in Liz Truss 'already being put in', claims Tory MP
- People paying extra '£5 for tank of petrol' due to value of the pound sinking
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here