PEOPLE were given an insight into the history of a Newport bridge during a heritage open day in the city.

Organised by the Friends of Newport Transporter Bridge (FONTB) on Sunday, visitors were given the rare chance to walk over the top of the bridge, which will be 100 years old next year.

Built by Newport engineer Robert Haynes, it is used daily to transport people and vehicles over the River Usk from Pill to the other side of Corporation Road.

Anne Gatehouse, secretary of the FONTB, said: "This is only one of eight bridges left like this in the world and one of six that is still working. It is the most elegant of them all and is known as the lady of the bridges.

"It is an aerial ferry. Six cars and their passengers can be transported over at one time in a gondola suspended above the river."

Other heritage sites open to the public included Tredegar House.

"Days like this promote the heritage of Wales," said Mrs Gatehouse, 65. "It has been very popular. There has been a constant stream of people taking an interest in the history of the bridge.

"I think it's important we keep our heritage alive in this way as we can learn from the past."

The bridge was constructed to ease congestion on the Newport Bridge, while enabling access to the steel works on the eastern bank of the river.