Handwritten note from Joanna Lumley reveals cycle path in original garden bridge plans

A handwritten note from actress Joanna Lumley to mayor Boris Johnson reveals a ban on cyclists was never part of the original plan for London's new garden bridge.

The £175m river crossing between Temple and the South Bank is the brainchild of Lumley and Olympic cauldron designer Thomas Heatherwick.

Lumley wrote to the mayor shortly after his re-election in 2012 asking to meet him to discuss him to discuss the idea.

She proposed a 'great pedestrian bridge with cycle tracks' but the plan was later revised, restricting the bridge to pedestrians only.

The letter was released to the Architects Journal following a freedom of information request.

The decision to ban cyclists has been criticised by opponents of the bridge who question a £60m contribution of taxpayers money.

Joanna Lumley's letter also thanks the mayor 'for the tulips' - said by City Hall to be a private gift.