A NEW cycle bridge across a busy dual carriageway near Sedgefield was officially opened by Prime Minister Tony Blair last week.

Mr Blair opened the County Durham Gateway Bridge across the busy A689 at the site of the former Wynyard Station.

The Prime Minister stopped to chat with pupils from Bishop Middleham, Hardwick and Sedgefield Primary Schools and a group of walkers, before posing on a bicycle.

The £495,000 bridge incorporates artwork in the form of gently undulating tubes in the shape of a bird's wings radiating from either side of the bridge.

Decorative lighting, which will operate from dusk to dawn, will highlight the green, orange and yellow of the wings.

The bridge, one of eight Millennium Bridges on the National Cycle Network, has been supported by National Lottery funds through Sustrans, the sustainable transport charity, and developed by Durham County Council.

Meanwhile, plans to develop a cycle route across Darlington took a major step forward

John Grimshaw, Sustrans director and chief engineer, signed a document with the council's development and environment director John Buxton to cement the deal to start work on a 12-mile route through the town early next year.