AFTER over two years of waiting, Ovingham Bridge will re-open to traffic next week.

The bridge will be officially re-opened at 12pm on Monday, September 5.

It was first closed in June 2014 to allow for a 12 month £3m programme of refurbishment work to take place.

However, the opening date was continually delayed by unexpected problems uncovered beneath layers of paint on the Victorian bridge.

It was eventually re-opened on December 3 2015 but closed just two days later as Storm Desmond hit the district, causing the worst flooding of the Tyne since 1771.

The damage caused by the storm necessitated a further programme of extensive repairs, costing £1.4m and funded by the Department for Transport.

Councillor Ian Swithenbank, Cabinet Member for Local Services, said: "We are delighted to be able to re-open Ovingham Bridge to traffic after the devastation of the flooding last winter.

"It was so disheartening for everyone, the local community, commuters and all those who had been involved in the refurbishment work, to see the damage that nature can cause in a matter of hours."

The repair work in the wake of Storm Desmond saw flood debris and damaged scaffolding removed from the structure.

New scaffolding was then installed to allow inspection and repair of the bridge, and detailed inspections for damage both above and below the water line.

Repair work was then carried out on the bridge legs, damage and scour to the river bed around the pier foundations and painting damaged areas of the bridge deck and pier legs.

After the bridge is re-opened some painting work will still be taking place.

Coun. Swithenbank said: "I’d like to pay credit to the engineers who have worked tirelessly to get this bridge back open as quickly as possible and also thank the people of Prudhoe, Ovingham and surrounding areas for their patience and understanding over recent months."