RENOVATION work on Cumbria's longest road bridge is now '95 per cent complete', Westmorland and Furness Council (WFC) has said.

The next stage of the project at Jubilee Bridge, which runs between Barrow and Walney Island, is to see scaffolding removed, beginning this Monday.

"[This will] allow boats to freely access the channel beneath," said a WFC spokesman.

"Under the terms of the Cumbria Act 1982, the highways authority is required to operate the bascule bridge from May 1 each year to allow access to the channel."

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The southern footway on the bridge is to remain closed while scaffolding is being removed.

The WFC spokesman said traffic lanes would remain open but that 'some narrowing' might be required for the safety of workers.

Remaining work on the 115-year-old, 350-metre bridge is to be completed later this year.

The Jubilee Bridge scheme, which has been carried out by Story Contracting, has included steelwork repairs and re-waterproofing.