IT MAY not be as famous as Gateshead's version, but Durham City's millennium bridge is already turning heads.

The 51-metre bridge - the first footbridge to be built in the city for decades - was lifted into place on Saturday and now straddles the River Wear.

And despite fears of postponing the operation because of bad weather the previous day, the bridge was put in place in glorious morning sunshine.

The bridge, which links Framwelgate waterside and The Sands car park at Freeman Place, is costing £460,000 and is funded by the Millennium Commission and the city and county councils.

Workers lost no time in lifting the bridge's A-frame into place and securing it to the banks. By Sunday, the final job of attaching the waterside ramp was complete.

Burney Johnson is the county council's head of design services and watched as the operation went like clockwork.

He said: "All the main elements are now in place, and I'm pleased to say there weren't any hitches.

"After Friday's appalling weather we thought there might be problems, but it could not have been more perfect on Saturday morning.

"And speaking to members of the public down there, they all seem to like what they see."

The bridge is due to be completed in March and is part of the city's Millennium City project in nearby Claypath.

It rests near the £30m four-star hotel that will be built by Newcastle's Closegate Hotel Developments and run by SAS Radisson.

Durham City Council has organised a competition to name the bridge and the results should be announced soon.