AN award-winning bridge used by thousands of university students every day is to be closed for refurbishment for nearly two weeks from today.

Kingsgate footbridge, a pedestrian crossing linking New Elvet with South Bailey on Durham's city centre peninsula, will close from 9.30am to 4pm from today until Friday, October 21, - excluding the weekend in between.

Durham County Council engineers are to refurbish the decking and its approaches, repairing and re-laying the concrete slabs that have lain there since the bridge was opened by Durham University 40 years ago.

The slender bridge was designed by renowned engineer Ove Arup.

Although he is best known for his work on landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Pompidou Centre, in Paris, and London's Millennium Bridge, the modest footbridge in Durham was thought to have been his favourite structure.

The bridge, made of reinforced concrete, was constructed on site in two halves, parallel to the river banks, which were then swung out over the water to join in the middle.

Since then, it has won a Civic Trust Award and has been designated as being of Grade One architectural and historic interest.

A county council spokesman said it was timing its work on the structure to minimise disruption to the students' working day.

He said: "By ensuring it is kept in good condition, we hope to ensure it remains that way for many years to come."