Shropshire's Iron Bridge to get £1.25m restoration

The world's first iron bridge, which stands over the River Severn in Shropshire, will undergo £1.25m of repairs and maintenance.

The Iron Bridge is viewed as an important symbol of the Industrial Revolution and was built more than two hundred years ago.

Its official opening in 1781 made it the first single span arch bridge in the world to be made of cast iron and was a turning point in British engineering.

It's now at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.

Despite its iconic status, the bridge is suffering from cracking due to stresses in the ironwork dating back to the original construction, ground movement over the centuries and an earthquake late in the 19th century.

As part of the restoration, different parts the bridge, including the iron radials and braces which hold it together, the main iron arch and the stone abutments on either side of the gorge examined and repaired.

The bridge will also be repainted as part of the conservation project.

It's English Heritage's single largest conservation project to date and repair work is expected to start in January.