Work to replace Peel Harbour Road Bridge – at a cost of more than half a million pounds - has started this week.

Construction began on Monday – it’s due to take around 20 weeks.

A temporary bridge with traffic light controls will cross the River Neb with access through Peel Marina boatyard.

The temporary bridge will be commissioned next Monday when the current bridge will be closed to traffic and pedestrians.

The bridge’s hardwood timber bridge, which was built in 1938, has reached the end of its life.

A rolling maintenance programme has been in place since the 1990s, but further deterioration means it must be replaced.

When completed, the bridge will be a single span structure with a concrete deck on steel beams and will carry two lanes of traffic, along with a footpath.

Highway improvements will be made to the approaches in both directions and the load carrying capacity will increase from 20 to 44 tonnes