SIXTEEN weeks of repair work to restore Marlow's most iconic landmark – the bridge – will start on July 5.

Transport chief Cllr Val Letheren announced £60,000 had been found for the project in April after a petition was signed by over 1,000 campaigners.

The Marlow Community Forum, who collected the names, said it was reflecting badly on the town and had become 'scruffy'.

Buckinghamshire County Council is jointly funding the repairs with the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.

Planned works will include replacing timber sections, repainting parapets and generally improving the aesthetics of the bridge.

BCC said disruption to the travelling public and the general area will be 'kept to a minimum, but some is inevitable'.

Footpaths will be closed one at a time and stop and go signs for traffic may be put in place.

Preliminary work will start at the site on Monday - including the erection of safety barriers.

BCC transport spokesman Brian Roberts said: “We are very happy that the work to preserve this beautiful bridge is going ahead.

“Not only is Marlow Bridge an important and rich part of Buckinghamshire's heritage, but it also an important crossing used by many residents every day.

“We realise that the temporary closure of some parts of the bridge will be an inconvenience, but repairs are urgently needed and we would ask the public to bear with us while work is underway.”