THE loving restoration of Hereford's Victoria Footbridge has scored a triple win.

The bridge won the overall project award and the heritage award at the annual awards of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) West Midlands.

The project's exhibition stand at the event also picked up the president's award.

The Grade II-listed bridge was built in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. When opened it was described as "artistic in design, elegant in form, light in construction and beautiful in effect".

Renovation work included removal of rust and paint, steelwork repairs, strengthening, re-painting, footway replacement with timber matching the original and restoration of decorative features. The work ensures the bridge's structural adequacy, easy future maintenance and sympathetic restoration with minimal environmental impact.

John Blakemore, awards panel chairman, said: "We were particularly impressed by the historians' advice on the restoration, for example the retention of original features such as the coat of arms. It is clearly a benefit to the community and an attraction to tourists."

He added: "You get an extremely strong impression of the quality of the work done on Victoria Footbridge. It oozes charm."

The work on Victoria Footbridge was carried out for Herefordshire Council by Interserve Project Services Ltd, with Owen Williams/ Amey plc as designers and site supervisors.