Work will start next month on ensuring a historic viaduct in the Forest of Dean is safe for both walkers and vessels beneath it on the River Wye.

Built in 1875 Lydbrook Rail Bridge (known locally as Stowfield Viaduct or the Black Bridge) is a former railway structure which spans the River Wye.

The rail line was closed in 1964 and the bridge deck was refurbished to form a walkway. But the bridge was closed in 2016 due to safety concerns.

Now repair work will start on Monday 4th June to make sure that river traffic and walkers continue to be safe when passing underneath.

So that the work can be carried out safely more than 1000 pieces of scaffolding and 1000 scaffolding boards will be put up first which should take about five weeks. Next, all the timber parts of the bridge and 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.

Whilst 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.

Once the work is complete, there will be a risk-free passage under the bridge for water traffic and walkers. However the bridge itself will still not be accessible on foot.

The structure is jointly owned by Herefordshire Council and Gloucestershire County Council, with the latter the lead authority for the bridge.