BRIDGE beams have been lifted into place across Newgate Gap on the promenade at Cliftonville.

The five 20 metre long girders, weighing between 16 and 26 tonnes, were lowered by crane to span the gap as the basis of the new bridge.

Thanet council is rebuilding the structure at a cost of £135,000 to provide the missing link of the Viking Coastal Cycle Route by connecting Newgate Promenade to Queen's Promenade.

The previous bridge was demolished for safety reasons in 2000, having been completely closed to the public three years earlier. The new bridge has been designed to resemble other bridges at Hodges Gap and Sacketts Gap.