IT has been more than 10 years since a Victorian bridge over a Weymouth railway bridge was removed after being deemed unsafe.

Workers took just eight hours in August 2006 to remove Alexander Bridge, which carried pedestrians from Hanover Road to Radipole Park Drive in Weymouth.

The bridge dated back to 1891. A new bridge costing more than £640,000 was designed to take its place and two of its three sections were lifted into place by a 500-ton crane.

The electricity supply to the live rail into Weymouth was isolated early yesterday morning to allow contractors to carry out the work in safety.

The new Alexander Bridge was officially opened with a party in the park

Hundreds of visitors were treated to festivities including music, dancers, stalls and an open-air chess tournament. Heather Beare, whose late husband and county councillor Bob spent years campaigning for the new bridge, was on hand to cut the ribbon and mark it officially open.

Dorset County Council leader Angus Campbell held the ceremony, and the entertainment was organised by the Radipole Park and Garden Friends Group.

County councillor Brian Ellis said: "People brought picnics with them, it was traditional but community-minded, which was excellent.

"This bridge has been a long time coming.

"It would've been easy to say it's too expensive, but that's where Bob came in, credit goes to him. It was fitting that his widow Heather should be the one to open it - she was very proud."

*Thanks to Idris Martin for his pictures of the bridge being removed