Swings and roundabouts for £7m bridge

The Homes and Communities Agency, the main funder of the swing bridge across the River Hull, says it will now open in September, blaming the latest setback on a backlog caused by delays.

The £7m structure – dubbed by one local as looking like “Darth Vadar’s right arm” – was lifted into place earlier this year. It will be the first bridge of its kind in the UK to allow people to remain on it as it swings. Its completion has been expected for almost three years.

The HCA said: “The delays were because the footbridge and associated surrounding environmental works needed to be done sequentially, meaning that delays earlier in the year had a knock-on effect on the next stages.”