A Gloucestershire business playing its part in Britain's largest infrastructure project has received a visit from the man heading up the scheme.

HS2 chief executive Mark Thurston joined Forest of Dean MP Mark Harper in touring the Mabey Bridge factory in Lydney, which is supplying modular bridges to support construction of the high speed, low carbon railway.

The business is supplying 10 bridges to the HS2 project, in collaboration with its partner Mabey Hire - who have started to install the first of the bridges in Kenilworth, Warwickshire - and is hopeful of more work.

Mabey Bridge employs 130 people at its head office and factory in Lydney with many local people working on the HS2 contracts.

Mr Thurston said: "Mabey Bridge is a great example of how HS2 is a project for the whole of the UK and having a positive impact beyond the immediate line of route.

"There are already more than 2,000 companies across the UK helping to deliver HS2, sustaining and creating jobs across Britain as we emerge from the pandemic.

"The scale and longevity of the project means that there will be many more opportunities available for UK firms, particularly small and medium sized enterprises, to get on board."

Mabey Bridge uses local suppliers including engineering companies, as well as cleaning, signage, motor vehicle servicing, tools and fastenings, catering, civil contracts and packaging companies.

Mr Harper said: "The Government's investment in infrastructure, such as HS2, is important at a time of economic uncertainty.

"It is encouraging that businesses across the UK, and particularly here in Gloucestershire, are winning work to deliver HS2, which will sustain local employment."

Maybe Bridge chief executive Michael Treacy said: "The HS2 project provides us with a unique opportunity to showcase British manufacturing expertise at its best and to demonstrate to customers, in both the UK and globally, how modular construction is being adopted by UK government as a game-changer on critical national infrastructure projects.

"We are excited about the potential the project offers to our business and to our local supply chain, and we look forward to working with our partners on the project, Mabey Hire, to support HS2 further as the project develops."

In April, the Government gave approval for the next stage of the HS2 project which has meant contractors have the go ahead to start building.