Essential repair work to make an historic closed footbridge safe for people who pass under it on the River Wye will begin next month.

The former Lydbrook Rail Bridge which crosses from Herefordshire to Gloucestershire was closed to walkers due to safety concerns in 2016.

Now council chiefs from both sides of the river have scheduled the repair work to begin on June 4th to make sure that river traffic and walkers will be safe when passing underneath the bridge.

Councillor Barry Durkin, Herefordshire Council’s cabinet member for transport and roads, said: “We would like to thank residents and visitors to Lydbrook for their patience as the making safe phase of the repair work begins.

“The short diversion will ensure that all visitors remain safe as they come to enjoy the area over the summer.”

Known locally as Stowfield Viaduct or the Black Bridge it was built in 1875 and was closed to trains in 1964 before it the bridge deck was refurbished to form a walkway.

Next month more than 1000 pieces of scaffolding, and 1000 scaffolding boards, will be put up first so that the work can be carried out safely.

Then all the timber parts of the bridge, and the parapets, will be removed along with any loose parts which could fall onto the footpath or into the river. The waste from the bridge will be recycled.

The columns, main beams and the transverse beams will remain in place.

While the scaffolding is being erected and removed, buoys will be used to safely direct boats and other river users under the bridge.

Pedestrians on the Herefordshire side of the riverbank will not be able to walk under the bridge and will be guided around with a short diversion.

Construction vehicles will be accessing the bridge from the Gloucestershire side.

Walkers are asked to be mindful of the increased number of vehicles using this track.

Herefordshire Council is also working with Gloucestershire County Council to ensure the long term sustainability of Lydbrook Bridge.

An application has been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a scheme that will allow the bridge to reopen as a walkway.