A 123-year-old wooden footbridge, built in Loftus in 1880, was reopened yesterday.

The 60ft walkway, in Dam Street, was shut last year because it was in a dangerous condition and Cleveland Potash had to close the rail line underneath for three days while repair work was carried out.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's Mayor, Councillor Norah Cooney, who reopened the bridge, said: "The company has carried out an excellent piece of work, incorporating the old and the new in difficult circumstances with little or no disruption to residents who live nearby."

Nearby residents were invited to the ceremony and treated to a lunch along with the men who carried out the work, costing £20,000.

The bridge was built at Boulby, then taken on a three-mile journey by rail to the site.

The old bridge was dismantled and the new bridge installed over three days. Cleveland Potash's chief engineer, Derek Quinn, said: "I'm very pleased with the way the job was completed.