A temporary colossus towered over Lowestoft at that weekend as the town's Bascule Bridge was raised so vital maintenance work could be carried out.

A temporary colossus towered over Lowestoft at that weekend as the town's Bascule Bridge was raised so vital maintenance work could be carried out.

The main route between the south and north of the town was shut as part of a £2.3m project to replace 5 ½ tonne hydraulic motors which raise the 35-year-old bridge to allow boats to pass through.

Bascule Bridge will be opened again to traffic at six am on Tuesday but motorists face further diversions as the Highways Agency will block of the area for another four weekends on October 27- 30, November 3-6, November 17-20 and December 1-4.

During the work nearly £500,000 is being spent to build a purpose built footbridge to allow pedestrians to cross by the bridge.

Free park and ride services will run from the former rifle range in Pakefield to the footbridge and from the Ellough airfield to Beccles railway station where people can continue to Lowestoft by train. Additional parking spaces will also be created in the town.

The Highways Agency said the work was progressing well and once finished there should be no need for major maintenance on the bridge for about another 20 years.