A suspension bridge that has carried thousands of visitors across a Shropshire river has been removed to make way for a new, wider crossing.

The bridge was part of a walk around the Attingham Park estate, near Shrewsbury, and provided a way into the deer park.

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But after 22 years of service, the bridge was taken away by a 100 tonne crane yesterday, to be replaced with a more modern bridge which will be able to carry wheelchairs and pushchairs.

Attingham Estate warden Bob Thurston said the work was creating a lot of interest among park visitors.

“A lot of people have come to see what’s going on. We’ve made some interpretation boards so that people can see what’s going on and we’ve signposted some places where people can get as close as possible to what’s happening,” he said.

“The crane had to come down a specially laid track but in a surprisingly short space of time it was all set up and took down the bridge.”

He said the first part of the new bridge has been delivered and is being put in place, adding that the new 28m long bridge was going to be assembled very quickly and would be in use by the first week of May.

“There have been contractors on site for the past week getting the foundations in position and all the bits the bridge will connect to. It should be just like putting a Lego set together now, because all the pieces should just slot together,” he said.

A new entrance has been created into the deer park and Mr Thurston said this route would remain after the bridge was opened.

“We’ve created two new circular walks which have given a new element to visitors,” he said.

By Pam Griffin