Renovated bridge 'needs annual bird poo cleaning'

The Tyne Bridge, currently undergoing a massive renovation, will require annual cleaning of bird poo to prolong the structure's life, a report has suggested.

Newcastle and Gateshead joint bridges committee said "it has become clear that bird guano not only detracts from the bridge's appearance but also accelerates deterioration of the protective coatings and steelwork".

Last year nine tonnes of bird mess was removed from the Tyne Bridge in the early stages of its restoration.

The report comes after engineers revealed last week that the number of repairs needed to restore the Grade II* listed landmark to its former glory has more than doubled since works began.

Kittiwakes have been nesting around the quayside since the 1960s and Newcastle City Council said it was "carefully monitoring" them during the bridge's four-year restoration project.

The structure, which celebrates its centenary in 2028, is home to more than 1,200 pairs of kittiwakes.

But the weight of the excrement removed in 2024 worked out as the equivalent of three Land Rover Defenders.

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