A COMMUNITY united to celebrate the opening of a £500,000 footbridge yesterday.

East Cleveland's Mayor and Mayoress Eric Jackson and Brenda Forster teamed up with councillor Garth Houchen to open the bridge in Marske.

The New Blacks Footbridge, near the expanding Mickledales estate, runs parallel to the existing road bridge which was considered a safety hazard.

Campaigners have argued that the old bridge was too narrow for both cars and pedestrians, including children attending nearby schools in the area, as well as cyclists.

Redcar and Cleveland Council's Direct Labour Organisation won the contract to build the bridge. Money for the project came from a Government fund which was set up to complete the National Cycle Route.

Yesterday afternoon, local schoolchildren, MP Vera Baird and other prominent members of the community congregated for the opening of the bridge.

Coun Houchen, who has long argued the old bridge was unsafe, said: "I'm delighted the work has been finished for the start of the new school year."

Earlier this week, The Northern Echo revealed a row had broken out between Coun Houchen and Mike Findley, secretary of the Marske Town Centre Partnership, over whose idea it was to apply for funding for the new bridge.