THREE years after the original structure was removed after being found to be unsafe, the new £65,000 Woodside Bridge was craned into place over Exmoor national park’s East Lyn Valley on Monday.

The new 18-metre bridge, of Exmoor oak, replaces one built by the Royal Engineers in 1993 and which became a favourite walk for thousands of visitors. It was dismantled after its timber frame was found to have dangerously decayed.

Final construction and upgrading of the paths will take a few weeks and the bridge will open to the public once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.

Contractors working with the park’s ranger and field services teams finally craned the long-awaited bridge into place. It has been paid for by the community after a fundraising drive led by the Lyn Community Development Trust in partnership with the park authority’s CareMoor for Exmoor scheme.

Exmoor national park access and recreation manager Dan Barnett, who oversaw the project, said: “This is an incredibly proud moment for the whole team at the national park, many of whom have contributed to the success of this project.

“With its durable design, this latest bridge is built to last and will undoubtedly be a source of joy to all those who visit this beautiful area for many years to come.

“Getting the job done while coronavirus restrictions are in place has been no mean feat. But although people will have to wait a while longer before visiting, we are pleased to have given them something worth the wait.”

The bridge is a feature of a popular route along the tree-lined banks of the East Lyn river and was featured in Julia Bradbury’s TV series Britain’s Best Walks.

It is part of a circular walk via Middleham Memorial Gardens planted in memory of victims of the 1952 flood disaster.

Suzette Hibbert, Lyn Community Development Trust Trustee and Deputy Mayor of Lynmouth, said: "To say how delighted I am to see the bridge back in place is an understatement.

“The generosity of our community and our visitors, the work of our volunteers and the unwavering support and expertise of the National Park Authority, has made it possible for the trustees of the Lyn Community Development Trust to see through the successful outcome of this project."