A long awaited pedestrian and cycling bridge connecting Denton Holme and Currock in Carlisle has officially opened much to local residents' delight.

Construction on the £2.6 million bridge started in January after years of campaigning to improve the old bridge that was 77 years old.

County council leader Stewart Young and Denton Holme city councillor Hugh McDevitt cut the blue ribbon at the entrance opposite Currock Community Centre, on Lediard Avenue, yesterday.

Children from Robert Ferguson Primary School, on East Dale Street, Denton Holme, then cycled across the wide, tarmac bridge to mark its official opening.

The project has been managed by Cumbria County Council, with Story Contracting and other local businesses carrying out the work.

Mr Young said: "They've done a fantastic job. I know they have kept the local community really informed about what's happening and dealt with any issues."

Mr Young would like to see more projects like this across the city but said it all came down to money. He said: "We'd like to make it as easy as possible for people to use alternatives to cars. If we make it easy for people to walk and cycle, you are much more likely to do that."

Mr McDevitt said: "The communities of Currock and Denton Holme for the first time in many years are now connected together again because the other bridge was no way fit for purpose. I wouldn't even use it in daylight because it was so bad."

The old bridge and new bridge could not be more dissimilar. The old was narrow, rickety, covered in graffiti and had steps which people had to heave prams and bikes over but the new bridge is wide, sturdy and is sloped on both sides so there's no more steps.

The bridge will link the two communities over the Cumbria Coast Rail Line, between Lund Crescent, Currock, and Bousteads Grassing, in Denton Holme.

Barry Miller, site manager, said Story Contracting had overcome many challenges while building the bridge but safety was of paramount importance particularly because the live railway runs under the bridge.

He said: "It's one of my favourite projects. I'm from Carlisle myself, I know this route and I have done this hundreds of times myself with my bike."

Cyclists who attended the opening yesterday were delighted with the new bridge. Helen Davison, a member of Cycle Carlisle said it would transform cyclists' experience and wants to see more projects like this across the city.

Adrienne Gill, of Arthur Street, Currock, said: "It's fantastic because it means you can cycle to Dalston or Carlisle without getting off your bikes.

"After years of struggling on steep steps and the old bridge it was dark, it felt unsafe. You did not go after dark."