THE North-East's only Victorian pleasure pier was re-opened yesterday, following extensive renovations.

Work began on Saltburn Pier a year ago.

The £1.3m project, backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, European Regional Development Fund, the Friends of the Pier and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, has been completed in time for Bank Holiday Monday.

A formal reopening will be held later in the summer.

The council's assistant director of community development, Peter Lane, said: "There is a feeling of tremendous excitement and relief."

The project has involved removing each trestle, refurbishing them and building new piles for them.

New timber decking and a new timber sub-structure have been added, and the pier head has been replaced.