Hadrian's Wall stretches for 84 miles

The 11-metre bridge, which was opened on Monday, allows people to walk the full 84 miles of the wall and replaces the old worn out crossing of Poltross Burn.

The �25,000 structure near Gilsland, in Cumbria, will add an important link in an end to end walk and was designed by the company that built the famous Angel of the North sculpture at Gateshead.

It is being put in place in time for the official opening of the Hadrian's Wall Path National Trail in May.

The bridge completes the route from Bowness-on-Solway in Cumbria to Wallsend in Northumberland and has been installed by English Heritage and the Countryside Agency.

Dave Mullings, of English Heritage, said the bridge will be an important link for walkers.

Hadrian's Wall attracts an average of about 1.25 million visitors a year, 500,000 of who go to the 10 museums and forts which are open to the public.