A new bridge will be lifted into place next month at Fitz Park in Keswick.

The delicate operation will mean the park will have almost completely returned to its pre-Storm Desmond state.

The new Knightsbridge will cost more than £250,000 to construct and install.

It replaces the original footbridge over the Greta which was swept away by the swollen river in December 2015.

The new construction will be sited higher above the water.

Parks trust chairman Adam Paxon said: “It is a major piece of the park jigsaw, in addition to the return of the car park at the Crosthwaite Road end.

“The reinstatement of the bridge makes the park more accessible from the car park at that end of town.

“It means people can park there, walk through the park and arrive on foot, rather than driving into the centre of town and contributing to the traffic while they look for parking space.”

Mr Paxon paid tribute to the work done by park manager Christine Fawcett to restore the grounds and co-ordinate work with the various clubs and groups who use it. And he also praised Steve Harwood, of Keswick-based ADK Architects for his work on the new bridge.

He said: “The parks staff have done exceptionally well to repair and reinstate the park.

“And Steve Harwood has been a huge help in moving things forward.”

Mr Paxon also thanked the town’s Lions group for a £20,000 donation towards the cost of building ramps to make the bridge more accessible to the elderly, infirm and the very young.

Mr Harwood explained that the bridge had been specially-designed to allow extra clearance above the river. He said: “For the height of the bridge, we were dictated to by the height of the path on the park side.

“But we have designed the balustrades on each side so that they are part of the support, rather than having the support underneath as usual.

“This allows for a bit more clearance.

“We have done everything possible to make the flow through of water that bit more possible.”

The bridge is being constructed by MPM Maryport and is expected to be brought to the site and lowered into place in one piece at the end of May.

It should be open to the public by the end of June.