PEOPLE in South Petherwin and the surrounding villages are celebrating the reopening of Trekelland Bridge.

The scheduled ancient monument, has been closed for two weeks while Cornwall Council carried out improvements to the entrances either side including white lining and new kerbing and signage.

The bridge is one of the best preserved medieval bridges in the South West and is believed to have been built in 1529.

But it has been damaged several times in the past few years prompting calls for measures to be taken to ensure its preservation.

The improvements to the bridge were formulated by Cornwall Council, working in close asociation with South Petherwin Parish Council and consultation with North Hill and Lewannick parishes. Some councillors have expressed concern that the measures taken will not be robust enough to protect the bridge from further damage.

Whether they are right remains to be seen.

But Cllr Phil Parsons, while acknowledging that it may be necessary to revisit the issue in the future, is pleased that efforts are being made to protect it.