Exmoor National Park Authority and Lyn Community Development Trust have today - Monday – #ExmoorDay – released a film of the virtual opening of the reinstated Woodside Bridge, in the East Lyn Valley.

The bridge was installed in May, under strict Covic rules, following a community-led campaign to raise £65,000. The original bridge is thought to date back to the 1850s and the last one was installed in the 1990s, but by 2016 its soft wood timber had come to the end of its life and the bridge was removed over safety concerns.

The fundraising campaign attracted celebrity backing from Julia Bradbury and, later, Caroline Quentin. Donations came flooding in and , after two years, it exceeded its target.

Lyn Community Development Trust chairman David Wilde said: “The bridge forms a very important part of the community here so we were eager to see it reinstated.

“It forms part of a short circular walk enjoyed regularly by many local people and is also hugely important for tourism, situated as it is in the beautiful East Lyn Valley near the start of one of the area’s most popular walks to Watersmeet.”

The film, available on the ExmoorNP Facebook page and YouTube channel features Lynton and Lynmouth Mayor, Chris Sleep, unveiling a plaque and Robin Milton, chairman of the park authority,cutting the ribbon and declaring the bridge open.

The bridge is at the entrance to the East Lyn Valley, a short walk upstream from the main car park in Lynmouth. It features in one of ten new Exmoor Explorer walks due to be launched later this year.