A NEW bridge opened near Cwmcarn's high school - part of a new community woodland project.

The bridge over the RIver Ebbw is vital to the £104,000 Cydcoed Woods for All project, which will turn wasteland on the banks of the river into a new community wood and provide potential homes for kingfishers and other wildlife.

The project will also protect the riverbank from erosion and provide a new green space for villagers.

The scheme is being run by the Cwmcarn and Abercarn Sports Development Association with Cwmcarn high school.

It will create almost three hectares of new woodland with walks and new wildlife habitat. A riverside walk with disabled access will be constructed.

The first phase, however, was to put in the bridge connecting the banks of the river, both owned by the school.

Malcolm Childs, of the Cwmcarn and Abercarn Sports Development Association, said: "The land on the far bank from the school has not been used in any way for over 100 years, after it was cut off by the railway. "Now the bridge is completed, volunteers, the children and qualified contractors can start to open up a wooded riverside walk for the local community."

The bridge was opened by Islwyn MP Don Touhig on Friday.