A new contract has been awarded to repaint and carry out repairs on Scotland's world-famous Forth Rail Bridge.

Railtrack has given the work, worth �9m over seven years, to civil engineering company Balfour Beatty.

The contract includes:

• Painting about 20,000 square metres of the 112-year old bridge

• Repairing and replacing walkways

• Steel repairs

• Providing access using scaffolding systems

The bridge, which was included in a list of sites nominated for World Heritage Status in 1999, carries 150 train services each day.

Built in the 1880's by Benjamin Baker, it has long been regarded as one of the engineering wonders of the world.

Railtrack Scotland director Janette Anderson said: "As custodians of the bridge, we are conscious of the high esteem in which this Forth Wonder of the World is held.

It carries 150 services a day

"The bridge - which was a record breaker from the day it was designed - will continue to be maintained using the latest engineering technology."

The paint used to coat the bridge - the unique Forth Bridge Red colour - is a specialist glass flake epoxy paint, similar to that used in the offshore oil industry and designed to last at least 20 years.

On average 150 people will be working on the bridge at any one time during the current year.

Railtrack has spent �30m on the refurbishment and maintenance of the Forth Bridge since 1997.