THE new £2.1-million Gem Bridge at Walkham Valley will be open to the public in time for the Diamond Jubilee weekend.

Devon County Council has announced that contractors and staff are working tirelessly to complete the final phase of the 24-metre high cycle and pedestrian bridge to ensure it is available for use by mid to late May.

The county council is currently working on key sections of the route, clearing and fencing the route towards Tavistock. Reinstatement of the zigzag track on the south of the river has been completed which, when the bridge is open, will allow walkers to enjoy circular routes from Grenofen and Bedford Bridge via Gem Bridge.

There will also initially be a temporary route via Grenofen Bridge on the north side of the route until the entire, final Drake's Trail is completed in September.

Cllr Philip Sanders, the member for Yelverton Rural, said: 'The journey from Yelverton to Tavistock will provide walkers and cyclists with easy access to some stunning scenery combined with the modern architecture of the bridge which sits comfortably in the valley of the River Walkham.

'Although not conceived as a project to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee I am delighted that it will be in place in time to be an integral part of the celebrations. I am also pleased that it has been designed to be accessible to a very wide range of users irrespective of age or ability.'

Cllr Stuart Hughes, county council cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: 'Although the bridge will be available for public use in May, it will be necessary for interim routes along roads and bridleways to be put in place while missing links are completed, and these will be signed. We expect the entire off-road Drake's Trail route between Tavistock and Plymouth will be finished by September and we hope people bear with us.'

Local schools in the area have also recently been involved in a competition to help design a public space and picnic area for the north side of the site, adjacent to the masonry remains of the original Brunel Viaduct. Fourteen entries were judged by a panel that included A -level design students from Tavistock College, Willem Montagne, from Dartmoor National Park, and Liz Holloway, the county council's sustainable travel officer.

The winning design, from Whitchurch Primary School, will be constructed over the next few weeks to the specification set out by the pupils. It will use reclaimed granite blocks from the ruins of Brunel's original Bridge making it an economically, environmentally and historically rewarding endeavour.

Angela O'Shea, headteacher at Whitchurch Primary School, said: 'We were delighted to be involved with this project.The pupils enjoyed visiting the site and meeting the engineers.We are very excited that our designs were selected. We plan to return to Gem Bridge once the project is completed.'